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List of 200+ Philosophy Essay Topics and Questions For Students

Updated 01 Jul 2024

While the majority of university students may assume that choosing a philosophy essay topic is easy, it does not work well in practice. Depending on what philosophy school you would like to choose, you should think of a list that must be brainstormed. Therefore, our philosophy essay topics below are meant to keep you inspired and help you see practical examples that can serve as a starting point. You will also learn how to write a philosophy essay and how to tell a good topic from a poor one. When you have a good idea to start with, you will already overcome the challenges of finding a good topic.

✍️ Writing Philosophy Essay: Definition & Tips

Before you start with philosophy paper topics, ensure that you know the basics of essay writing. Begin with essay structure to academic features, take time to study your grading rubric and ask our  essay service questions when something is unclear. Here is what you must consider:

• Ensure that you envision your philosophy essay’s topic by narrowing things down.
• Create an outline by choosing various key arguments.
• Read various literature dealing with the things that interest you.
• Focus on your weaknesses by looking up terms and facts.
• Choose your research methodology: persuasive, argumentative, explanatory, etc.
• Create a bibliography to support chosen ideas with reliable sources.

Your philosophy research paper topics structure should follow these aspects:

• Compose a strong thesis statement.
• Use your key arguments as the body paragraph topic sentences.
• Add a hook sentence to your introduction part.
• Provide evidence for each idea that is not yours.
• Present your ideas with the help of bridging words.
• Add counter-argument ideas if it is necessary to support your point.

Tips on Writing Philosophy Essay

• Explain a philosophical concept.
• Provide real-life examples to help your audience understand complex aspects.
• Compare theories by seeking contrasts.
• Structure your philosophical ideas from easy to complex.
• Provide personal analysis to support each argument.

Once again, always provide due evidence if you are using any external ideas!

What are some Philosophy topics?

Some topics may deal with the nature of human existence, the things we know, the definition of concepts, and moral ethics. It is also possible to choose case study examples by turning to the works of Socrates, Plato, or more modern philosophers like John McDowell.

📙 50 Philosophy Essay Topics

We shall start with not-so-difficult philosophical ideas that will deal with the general subjects related to this challenging field of science. While Philosophy is about thinking and analysis, your research writing should not be vague or unclear. Read your chosen topics aloud, change the wording, and see whether you can support some paradigms with good sources and explanatory analysis.

• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Rights and Wrongs
• Existentialism in the 21st Century: Relevance and Application
• The Philosophy of Mind: Consciousness and Identity
• Stoicism as a Way of Life: Practical Applications
• The Impact of Nietzsche's Übermensch on Modern Society
• The Concept of Justice in Plato’s Republic
• Free Will vs. Determinism: The Philosophical Debate
• The Role of Suffering in Human Development According to Buddhism
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Playing God or Advancing Humanity?
• The Influence of Social Media on Personal Identity
• The Philosophy of Language: Meaning and Interpretation
• Environmental Ethics: Responsibilities to Nature and Future Generations
• The Problem of Evil: Philosophical and Theological Perspectives
• The Concept of Happiness in Aristotelian Ethics
• Feminist Philosophy: Theories and Implications
• The Intersection of Philosophy and Science: Conflicts and Complementarities
• The Philosophy of Education: Purpose and Approach
• The Concept of Liberty in Political Philosophy
• The Ethics of Care: A Challenge to Traditional Moral Theories
• The Philosophy of Art: Aesthetics and Meaning
• The Notion of Self in Eastern and Western Philosophies
• The Ethics of Animal Rights and Welfare
• The Philosophy of Religion: Faith vs. Reason
• The Impact of Technology on Society: A Philosophical Inquiry
• The Concept of Duty in Kantian Ethics
• The Philosophy of History: Patterns, Progress, and Purpose
• The Role of Intuition in Philosophical Thought
• The Ethics of Euthanasia: Autonomy and Morality
• The Philosophy of Space and Time: Understanding the Universe
• The Notion of Justice in Rawls vs. Nozick
• The Philosophy of Friendship: Aristotle’s View and Modern Perspectives
• The Concept of Beauty: Subjective vs. Objective Standards
• The Ethics of Globalization: Economic Justice and Human Rights
• The Influence of Hegel’s Dialectics on Contemporary Thought
• The Philosophy of Sport: Fair Play, Competition, and Virtue
• The Notion of Truth in Postmodern Philosophy
• The Ethics of Immigration: Rights, Policies, and Morality
• The Role of Logic in Philosophical Argumentation
• The Philosophy of Love: From Plato to Modern Times
• The Ethics of Surveillance: Privacy vs. Security
• The Concept of Power in Foucault’s Philosophy
• The Philosophy of Leisure: The Value of Free Time in a Productive Society
• The Ethics of Consumption: Materialism and Sustainability
• The Notion of Community in Communitarian Philosophy
• The Philosophy of Language and Technology: Communication in the Digital Age
• The Ethics of War: Just War Theory and Pacifism
• The Concept of Alienation in Marxist Philosophy
• The Philosophy of Humor: What Makes Something Funny?
• The Ethics of Cloning: Human Dignity and Reproductive Technology
• The Philosophy of Aging: Wisdom, Ethics, and the Value of Life

Remember that you can always narrow things down to what fits your essay!

📝Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

These easy Philosophy essay topics should provide you with a basic idea before we proceed with more complex ideas:

• The Concept of Happiness: What Makes Life Fulfilling?
• Free Will vs. Determinism: Do We Truly Have Choices?
• The Ethics of Animal Rights: Should Animals Have the Same Rights as Humans?
• The Impact of Technology on Society: A Philosophical Perspective
• The Philosophy of Friendship: What Makes a Good Friend?
• Introduction to Stoicism: How Can Stoic Principles Improve Our Lives?
• The Role of Education in Shaping Society
• Personal Identity: What Makes You, You?
• The Ethics of Euthanasia: Right to Die or Duty to Live?
• The Philosophy Behind Environmental Conservation
• Happiness vs. Pleasure: Understanding the Difference
• The Importance of Ethics in Business
• Understanding Empathy: Its Importance and Impact
• The Concept of Justice in Modern Society
• Mindfulness and Philosophy: Living in the Moment
• The Influence of Media on Public Opinion: A Philosophical Analysis
• The Philosophy of Art: What is Artistic Beauty?
• The Concept of Duty: Kantian Ethics Explained
• Philosophical Perspectives on Poverty and Wealth
• The Role of Intuition in Decision Making

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☝️ Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics

They are meant for clear arguments where you make a stand with an aim to defend what you believe in or bring up arguments to discuss things with your fellow students. Here are some ideas:

• Is Morality Relative or Absolute?
• Can Free Will Exist in a Deterministic Universe?
• Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat to Human Existence?
• Do Humans Have an Obligation to Preserve the Natural Environment?
• Is the Concept of the Social Contract Relevant in Today's Society?
• Should Genetic Engineering Be Subject to Ethical Limitations?
• Is Democracy the Best Form of Government?
• Can War Ever Be Justified Ethically?
• Is Capital Punishment Morally Defensible?
• Does the Existence of Evil Disprove the Existence of God?
• Is Euthanasia Ethically Permissible?
• Should Wealth Redistribution Be a Central Aim of Society?
• Is Education a Right or a Privilege?
• Does Technology Enhance or Diminish Human Interaction?
• Is Animal Testing Justifiable?
• Can Objective Truth Exist in Morality?
• Is the Pursuit of Happiness a Worthwhile Life Goal?
• Should Privacy Be Sacrificed for Security?
• Is Censorship Ever Justifiable in a Free Society?
• Does Society Have a Duty to Provide Healthcare to All Its Citizens?

📚 Practical Philosophical Topics For Essays

If you can apply a school of philosophy or some subject in practice, take a look at these Philosophy essay ideas:

• The Ethics of Consumerism: Philosophical Perspectives on Consumption and Sustainability
• Philosophy in the Workplace: Ethical Leadership and Corporate Responsibility
• The Role of Philosophy in Education: Teaching Critical Thinking and Ethical Reasoning
• Mental Health and Well-being: A Philosophical Examination of Happiness and Fulfillment
• Digital Life: The Impact of Social Media on Identity and Relationships
• Environmental Ethics: Philosophical Approaches to Climate Change and Conservation
• The Philosophy of Science: Understanding the Limits and Possibilities of Scientific Knowledge
• Philosophical Perspectives on Gender Equality and Feminism
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Rights, Responsibilities, and the Future of AI
• Philosophy of Religion: Faith, Rationality, and the Meaning of Life
• The Intersection of Philosophy and Art: Aesthetics and the Value of Art
• Philosophical Approaches to Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
• The Ethics of Healthcare: Patient Rights, Access, and the Doctor-Patient Relationship
• Philosophy and Political Activism: The Role of Ideas in Social Movements
• The Philosophy of Language: Communication, Misunderstanding, and Meaning
• Ethical Consumerism: The Moral Implications of Our Purchasing Choices
• The Ethics of Technology: Privacy, Surveillance, and Freedom in the Digital Age
• Philosophy of Education: The Purpose and Value of Learning
• The Ethics of Immigration: Rights, Policies, and Global Responsibility
• Philosophical Perspectives on Aging and Mortality

🌎 Worldview Essay Topics

This section is dedicated to those subjects that reflect how a person sees the world. It brings up philosophy essay questions that sum up what a person beliefs in. For example:

• The Influence of Culture on Moral Values: A Comparative Analysis
• Existentialism and the Search for Meaning in the Modern World
• The Impact of Religion on Worldviews: A Global Perspective
• Humanism vs. Spiritualism: Contrasting Life Philosophies
• The Role of Science in Shaping Contemporary Worldviews
• Eastern vs. Western Philosophies: Diverse Paths to Understanding Reality
• The Concept of Karma in Different Cultural Contexts
• Materialism and Consumer Society: Philosophical Critiques
• The Philosophy of Time: How Different Cultures Understand Time
• Environmental Worldviews: From Anthropocentrism to Eco-centrism
• The Digital Age and Its Impact on Human Perception and Interaction
• Fate vs. Free Will: Determining the Course of Our Lives
• The Notion of the Self in Philosophy and Psychology
• Globalization and Its Effects on Cultural Identity and Worldviews
• Postmodernism: Challenging Traditional Narratives and Beliefs
• The Concept of Utopia: Visions of a Perfect Society
• Ethical Relativism: Understanding Morality in a Pluralistic World
• The Intersection of Art and Philosophy in Shaping Worldviews
• Philosophical Perspectives on Death and the Afterlife
• Technology and Transhumanism: Redefining Human Nature and Future

📖 Plato Essay Topics

It is hard to find another personality that would be as important for the field of Philosophy as Plato. Here are several philosophy topics for essays that deal with Plato’s beliefs and the timeless heritage. For example:

• The Theory of Forms: Understanding Plato's Concept of Reality
• Plato's Allegory of the Cave: Interpretations and Implications
• Justice in Plato's Republic: An Analysis of His Ideal State
• Plato and Democracy: Critique and Perspectives
• The Role of the Philosopher-King in Plato's Ideal Society
• Plato's Concept of the Soul: Tripartite Structure and Its Significance
• Education in Plato's Republic: Methods and Philosophical Foundations
• Plato's Views on Art and Imitation: An Examination of the Ion and the Republic
• The Significance of Plato's Academy in the Development of Western Philosophy
• Comparative Analysis: Plato and Aristotle on Virtue and Happiness
• Plato's Symposium: Love, Beauty, and the Path to the Divine
• The Influence of Socratic Method on Plato's Dialogues
• Plato's Critique of Sophistry and Its Relevance Today
• The Concept of Eudaimonia in Plato's Ethical Philosophy
• Plato's Timaeus: Cosmology and the Nature of the Physical World
• Plato and the Theory of Knowledge: Justified True Belief
• The Role of Myth in Plato's Philosophy: From the Gorgias to the Phaedrus
• Plato's Political Philosophy: The Challenges of Realizing the Ideal State
• The Immortality of the Soul in Plato's Phaedo: Arguments and Critiques
• Plato's Influence on Christian Thought and Theology

💡 Enlightenment Essay Topics

This section explores interesting topics that relate to the period of Enlightenment. Here is the list to consider:

• The Role of Reason in the Enlightenment: A New Approach to Knowledge
• Voltaire and the Fight for Religious Tolerance
• The Impact of the Enlightenment on Modern Democratic Thought
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the Concept of the Social Contract
• Enlightenment Critiques of Monarchy and the Path to Republicanism
• The Influence of Enlightenment Thought on the French Revolution
• Comparative Analysis of the Scottish and French Enlightenment
• Women of the Enlightenment: Contributions and Challenges
• The Enlightenment and Its Role in the Development of Modern Science
• Immanuel Kant and the Enlightenment: The Pursuit of Freedom
• The Enlightenment and the Arts: A New Aesthetic for a New Time
• Deism and the Enlightenment: Rethinking the Divine
• The Legacy of the Enlightenment in Contemporary Education
• Enlightenment Philosophers on Human Rights and Equality
• Economic Thought in the Enlightenment: The Beginnings of Modern Economics
• The Enlightenment’s Influence on Modern Legal Systems
• Critiques of the Enlightenment: Romanticism and Counter-Enlightenment Thoughts
• The Spread of Enlightenment Ideas Through Europe and Beyond
• The Enlightenment and the Birth of Modern Political Ideologies
• Philosophical Debates on Morality and Ethics During the Enlightenment

📜 Transcendentalism Essay Topics

In simple terms, Transcendentalism is a philosophy that came to be in the 19th century, aiming for self-sufficiency. The main belief states that people are originally good but are corrupted by society and the wrong teaching or negative examples. It is one of the most varied branches of philosophy as can be seen from the topics below:

• The Core Principles of Transcendentalism: An Introduction
• Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Philosophy of Self-Reliance
• Henry David Thoreau’s Walden: Living in Harmony with Nature
• Transcendentalism and Its Influence on American Literature
• Margaret Fuller: A Transcendentalist Feminist Perspective
• The Role of Nature in Transcendentalist Thought
• Transcendentalism and Its Critique of Materialism
• The Social and Political Activism of Transcendentalists
• Transcendentalism: A Predecessor to Environmental and Ecological Movements
• The Concept of Individualism in Transcendentalist Writings
• Transcendentalism and Education: The Legacy of Bronson Alcott
• The Influence of Eastern Philosophies on Transcendentalist Thought
• Transcendentalism in Contemporary Society: Relevance and Reflections
• The Relationship Between Transcendentalism and Romanticism
• Transcendentalist Views on Religion and Spirituality
• The Impact of Transcendentalism on Civil Disobedience and Social Change
• Transcendentalism and the Arts: Exploring Aesthetic Expressions
• Critiques of Transcendentalism: Limitations and Counterarguments
• The Legacy of Transcendentalism in Modern American Culture
• Exploring the Concept of the Over-Soul in Transcendentalist Literature

❓ Philosophy Essay Questions

When you choose a good Philosophy essay topic, always ask yourself a question. Take a look at how it has been done below:

• What is the nature of reality, and how can we truly know anything about it?
• Is free will an illusion, and are our choices predetermined by external factors?
• Can moral judgments be objective, or are they entirely subjective?
• What is the role of consciousness in defining personal identity?
• How do language and thought influence our perception of the world?
• Is it possible to achieve true happiness, and what would it entail?
• What is justice, and how can a society ensure its fair distribution?
• Can artificial intelligence ever attain consciousness or moral reasoning?
• What does it mean to live a good life, and how should individuals strive to achieve it?
• How should we balance individual freedom with social responsibility?
• Is there a universal standard for beauty, or is beauty entirely subjective?
• What is the significance of death in giving meaning to life?
• How do power dynamics shape ethical considerations and social structures?
• Can science and religion coexist, or are they fundamentally incompatible?
• What is the ethical responsibility of humans towards the environment and non-human life?
• How does the concept of the self evolve in the digital age?
• Is there an ethical obligation to pursue truth, even at the expense of personal happiness?
• What role does suffering play in personal growth and the development of character?
• How can societies best balance tradition and innovation in shaping the future?
• What are the ethical implications of genetic engineering and biotechnology on future generations?

What is a good topic for a philosophy paper?

One of the most popular topics in Philosophy today is whether people are born as good beings or we already come to this world with all the negative traits. While it is popular, you can narrow things down by focusing on criminals, youth gangs, or volunteers (as an example of the good ones).

How to Find Excellent Philosophy Essay Topics?

When you have a plethora of philosophy ideas, it is easy to get lost, which is why you should follow these simple Philosophy topic choice tips:

• Find something that truly inspires you. If your topic does not motivate you, it will always show.
• Choose a certain school of philosophy as your methodology.
• Read on various philosophers and examine their famous works.
• Narrow things down and change the wording.
• Research similar works on the topic.

When you have already chosen something, read it aloud and try to think about keywords by writing them down in a list. Once done, connect your essay topic with the thesis statement.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Written by David Kidwell

David is one of those experienced content creators from the United Kingdom who has a high interest in social issues, culture, and entrepreneurship. He always says that reading, blogging, and staying aware of what happens in the world is what makes a person responsible. He likes to learn and share what he knows by making things inspiring and creative enough even for those students who dislike reading.

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• A Research Guide
• Essay Topics

120 Philosophy Essay Topics

How to choose a topic for your philosophy essay:.

Philosophy Argumentative Essay Topics:

• The existence of God: Can the existence of a higher power be proven or disproven?
• The problem of evil: How can the existence of evil be reconciled with the concept of a benevolent God?
• Free will vs determinism: Are our actions predetermined or do we have the freedom to choose?
• The nature of reality: Is reality objective or subjective?
• The mind-body problem: Is the mind separate from the body, or are they one and the same?
• Ethical relativism vs ethical absolutism: Are moral values relative or are there universal moral truths?
• The nature of consciousness: What is consciousness and how does it arise?
• The concept of personal identity: What defines our sense of self and continuity over time?
• The problem of induction: Can we justify our beliefs based on past experiences and observations?
• The nature of knowledge: What is knowledge and how do we acquire it?
• The philosophy of mind: Can machines or artificial intelligence possess consciousness?
• The nature of beauty: Is beauty subjective or objective?
• The ethics of euthanasia: Is it morally permissible to end someone’s life to alleviate suffering?
• The ethics of animal rights: Do animals have rights and how should they be treated?
• The philosophy of science: What is the nature of scientific knowledge and how does it differ from other forms of knowledge?

Philosophy Persuasive Essay Topics:

• The existence of free will: Determinism vs libertarianism
• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence
• The nature of consciousness: Materialism vs dualism
• The problem of evil: Can an all-powerful and benevolent God coexist with evil?
• The ethics of animal rights: Should animals have the same moral status as humans?
• The concept of personal identity: Is the self defined by physical or psychological continuity?
• The morality of euthanasia: Should individuals have the right to choose when to end their lives?
• The nature of knowledge: Can we truly know anything with certainty?
• The ethics of genetic engineering: Should we manipulate the genetic makeup of humans and other organisms?
• The philosophy of mind: Can machines ever possess consciousness?
• The morality of capital punishment: Is it ever justified to take a life as punishment for a crime?
• The problem of induction: Can we rely on past experiences to make predictions about the future?
• The ethics of abortion: When does personhood begin and what are the rights of the fetus?
• The philosophy of time: Is time an illusion or a fundamental aspect of reality?

Philosophy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics:

• Dualism vs Materialism: Examining the nature of mind and body
• Rationalism vs Empiricism: Contrasting approaches to acquiring knowledge
• Utilitarianism vs Deontology: Evaluating ethical theories on the basis of consequences and moral duties
• Existentialism vs Nihilism: Exploring the meaning of life and existence
• Plato’s Theory of Forms vs Aristotle’s Theory of Substance: Comparing their views on the nature of reality
• Determinism vs Free Will: Analyzing the compatibility of human freedom and determinism
• Hedonism vs Stoicism: Contrasting philosophies on achieving happiness and fulfillment
• Egoism vs Altruism: Examining self-interest versus concern for others in ethical decision-making
• Epistemological Relativism vs Objectivism: Evaluating the nature of truth and knowledge
• Aesthetics of Beauty vs Aesthetics of Sublime: Comparing different approaches to appreciating art and beauty
• Social Contract Theory vs Natural Law Theory: Contrasting views on the origin and legitimacy of political authority
• Feminism vs Postmodernism: Analyzing different perspectives on gender, power, and identity
• Idealism vs Realism: Examining different ontological views on the nature of reality
• Pragmatism vs Essentialism: Contrasting approaches to understanding the essence and purpose of things
• Eastern Philosophy vs Western Philosophy: Comparing and contrasting different philosophical traditions and their core concepts

Philosophy Informative Essay Topics:

• The concept of free will and determinism: Exploring the debate between human agency and predestination
• The philosophy of mind: Examining the mind-body problem and different theories of consciousness
• Ethics and moral relativism: Analyzing the idea that moral principles are subjective and vary across cultures
• The nature of reality: Investigating different metaphysical theories, such as idealism, materialism, and dualism
• The philosophy of language: Exploring the relationship between language, thought, and reality
• The problem of evil: Examining the existence of evil in a world governed by an all-powerful and benevolent God
• The philosophy of science: Analyzing the nature of scientific knowledge and the scientific method
• The concept of identity: Investigating the philosophical questions surrounding personal identity and the self
• The philosophy of aesthetics: Exploring the nature of beauty, art, and the role of aesthetics in our lives
• The philosophy of religion: Examining different arguments for and against the existence of God
• The philosophy of time: Analyzing the nature of time, its relation to causality, and the possibility of time travel
• The philosophy of education: Investigating different theories of education and their implications for teaching and learning
• The philosophy of technology: Exploring the ethical and metaphysical implications of technological advancements
• The philosophy of happiness: Analyzing different theories of happiness and the pursuit of a meaningful life
• The philosophy of politics: Examining different political ideologies and their underlying philosophical foundations

Philosophy Cause and Effect Essay Topics:

• The impact of existentialism on individual freedom and responsibility
• The influence of utilitarianism on ethical decision-making
• The consequences of Descartes’ mind-body dualism on the understanding of human nature
• The effects of Nietzsche’s concept of the will to power on the pursuit of personal goals
• The relationship between Kant’s categorical imperative and moral duty
• The cause and effect of Plato’s theory of forms on the understanding of reality
• The consequences of Aristotle’s concept of virtue ethics on moral character development
• The impact of John Locke’s theory of tabula rasa on the understanding of human knowledge
• The influence of Sartre’s concept of bad faith on personal authenticity
• The effects of Hume’s skepticism on the nature of knowledge and belief
• The relationship between Hegel’s dialectic and historical progress
• The consequences of Rawls’ theory of justice on social equality
• The impact of feminist philosophy on gender equality and women’s rights
• The influence of Confucianism on social harmony and moral values in East Asian societies
• The cause and effect of Schopenhauer’s pessimism on the perception of human suffering

Philosophy Narrative Essay Topics:

• The Search for Meaning: A Personal Journey
• The Paradox of Free Will: Exploring the Boundaries of Choice
• The Nature of Reality: A Philosophical Reflection
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: A Moral Dilemma
• The Existential Crisis: Navigating Life’s Uncertainties
• The Problem of Evil: Examining the Coexistence of Good and Bad
• The Philosophy of Happiness: Pursuit or Illusion?
• The Mind-Body Problem: Exploring the Connection between the Physical and Mental
• The Ethics of Animal Rights: Balancing Human Interests and Animal Welfare
• The Philosophy of Time: Is it Linear or Cyclical?
• The Meaning of Beauty: A Philosophical Exploration
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Playing God or Advancing Humanity?
• The Philosophy of Education: Shaping Minds and Cultivating Knowledge
• The Nature of Consciousness: Unraveling the Mystery of Self-Awareness
• The Philosophy of Death: Contemplating the Afterlife and the Meaning of Mortality

Philosophy Opinion Essay Topics:

• The nature of reality: Idealism vs materialism
• The problem of evil: Does the existence of evil contradict the existence of a benevolent God?
• The ethics of artificial intelligence: Should AI be granted moral rights?
• The concept of personal identity: Is personal identity based on physical or psychological continuity?
• The mind-body problem: Is the mind separate from the body or are they one and the same?
• The ethics of euthanasia: Is it morally permissible to assist someone in ending their own life?
• The ethics of genetic engineering: Should we have the right to modify our own genetic makeup?
• The problem of induction: Can we justify our beliefs based on past experiences?
• The ethics of capital punishment: Is the death penalty morally justifiable?
• The nature of time: Is time an objective reality or a subjective construct?
• The ethics of abortion: Is abortion morally permissible?

Philosophy Evaluation Essay Topics:

• Evaluating the concept of free will in a deterministic universe
• Assessing the moral responsibility of corporations
• The validity of utilitarianism as a moral theory
• Evaluating the existence of objective moral values
• Assessing the ethical implications of genetic engineering
• The concept of personal identity: evaluating the mind-body problem
• Evaluating the role of reason in ethical decision-making
• Assessing the compatibility of faith and reason
• The concept of justice: evaluating different theories
• Evaluating the ethical implications of animal rights
• Assessing the concept of beauty in art and aesthetics
• The problem of evil: evaluating the existence of God
• Evaluating the ethical implications of climate change
• Assessing the concept of happiness in different philosophical traditions

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100+ Philosophy Essay Topics

Table of Contents

What is a Philosophy Essay?

A philosophy essay is an analytical piece of writing where the author critically explores philosophical concepts, theories, and arguments. Unlike typical essays that simply present information, a philosophy essay demands that you present a clear thesis or a specific point of view and then provide arguments or evidence to support or challenge it. The nature of philosophy is often abstract, dealing with questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language, thus requiring a thoughtful approach and careful analysis.

Guide to Choosing a Philosophy Essay Topic

Selecting the right topic for your philosophy essay is essential for laying the foundation for an intriguing and insightful paper. Here’s how:

• Identify Your Interest : Pick topics that genuinely intrigue you. Philosophy is vast; find your niche!
• Consider Your Audience : Who will read the essay? Tailor your topic to match their level of understanding and interest.
• Research and Familiarize : Ensure you have enough resources and knowledge to write extensively on the chosen topic.
• Challenge Yourself : Opt for topics that allow you to analyze and present unique perspectives critically.

Philosophy Essay Topics Lists

Metaphysics.

• Is there a purpose to life, or is existence merely accidental?
• Can the idea of an omnipotent and benevolent God coexist with the presence of evil in the world?
• What is the nature of reality – is it objective or subjective?
• Do human beings have free will, or are our actions predetermined?

Epistemology

• What is the nature and scope of human knowledge?
• Can we ever know something with absolute certainty?
• How do belief, knowledge, and truth interrelate?
• Is skepticism about the external world justified?
• Is morality absolute or relative?
• What makes an action morally right or wrong?
• Is there a universal standard of good, or is it culture-specific?
• How does self-interest play into moral decisions?
• What defines beauty in art or nature?
• Can art be morally wrong and still be considered great art?
• Is the appreciation of beauty purely subjective?
• How does cultural context influence our interpretation of art?

Social and Political Philosophy

• Is democracy the best form of governance?
• How should resources be distributed in a society – equally or based on merit?
• Is there a right to privacy in the digital age?
• Should there be limits to freedom of speech?

Existentialism

• What is the essence of human existence?
• How does one find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world?
• Is authenticity necessary for a fulfilled life?
• How do death and the finite nature of life influence human behavior?

Ancient Philosophy

• How did Socratic irony influence philosophical dialogue?
• Plato’s allegory of the cave: What does it reveal about human perception?
• Aristotle’s conception of virtue ethics.
• Stoicism and its relevance in today’s world.
• Epicureanism: The pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

Philosophy of Religion

• The problem of evil: Challenges to religious belief.
• Pascal’s Wager and its criticisms.
• Arguments for and against the existence of God.
• Religion and science: Are they compatible or conflicting?
• The concept of the afterlife in different religious traditions.

Philosophy of Mind

• Mind-body dualism: Arguments and implications.
• Is artificial intelligence capable of consciousness?
• The problem of other minds: How do we know others have consciousness?
• Emergent properties and the nature of consciousness.
• The philosophical implications of neuroscientific discoveries.

Feminist Philosophy

• The role of gender in epistemology.
• Feminist critiques of traditional ethical theories.
• The concept of the “male gaze” in feminist aesthetics.
• How does intersectionality reshape philosophical discussions on identity?
• The influence of Simone de Beauvoir on contemporary feminist thought.

Eastern Philosophy

• The Daoist conception of the “Way” and its significance.
• Buddhist philosophy on suffering and the path to enlightenment.
• Confucian values in modern Asian societies.
• The philosophy of karma and reincarnation.
• Comparing Western and Eastern notions of the self.

Philosophy of Science

• The demarcation problem: What distinguishes science from pseudoscience?
• Philosophical challenges posed by quantum mechanics.
• Scientific realism vs. anti-realism: Is science discovering truth?
• The role of paradigms and revolutions in the history of science, as posited by Thomas Kuhn.
• The ethics of genetic engineering and human enhancement.

Environmental Philosophy

• Deep ecology vs. shallow ecology: Different environmental ethics.
• The intrinsic value of nature: Should we value nature for its own sake?
• Philosophical perspectives on climate change and human responsibility.
• The rights of non-human animals: Ethical considerations.
• The anthropocentrism vs. biocentrism debate.

Postmodern Philosophy

• The nature of truth in a postmodern world.
• Derrida’s concept of deconstruction and its implications.
• The philosophical underpinnings of postmodern art and literature.
• Critiques of grand narratives and meta-narratives.
• Postmodernism and its impact on ethics and morality.

Logic and Argumentation

• The nature and types of logical fallacies.
• Inductive vs. deductive reasoning: Strengths and limitations.
• The paradoxes of Zeno and their resolutions.
• The importance of soundness and validity in argumentation.
• The challenges and limitations of formal logic in philosophical argumentation.

Applied Philosophy

• The ethics of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
• Philosophical arguments for and against capital punishment.
• The moral implications of global economic inequality.
• The philosophical challenges of privacy in the age of digital surveillance.
• The ethics of war: Just War Theory and its criticisms.

Philosophy of Language

• Wittgenstein’s “language games” and their implications for meaning.
• The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Does language shape our reality?
• Deconstructionism: How does language conceal and reveal truth?
• The philosophy of names: What’s in a name?
• Metaphor in language: More than just a linguistic device?

Continental Philosophy

• Heidegger’s notion of “Being” and its significance.
• Sartre and existential freedom: Are we condemned to be free?
• Foucault’s philosophy of power: How is power dispersed in society?
• Husserl’s phenomenology: A fresh approach to consciousness.
• Derrida vs. Foucault: Debating the nature of discourse and power.

African Philosophy

• Ubuntu: The African conception of community and humanity.
• African communitarianism vs. Western individualism.
• Oral traditions in African philosophy: A different way of knowing?
• Colonialism and its effects on African philosophical thought.
• The concept of time in African philosophy.

Philosophy of Education

• The Socratic method: Is questioning the best way to teach?
• Education for liberation: Paulo Freire’s pedagogical approach.
• Philosophy in the classroom: Should ethics be a mandatory subject?
• The hidden curriculum: What are schools really teaching?
• Moral education: Can virtue be taught?

Are you stuck on how to approach your chosen topic? Dive deep into philosophical insights with WriteOnDeadline’s essay writing service. Our expert writers are well-versed in all philosophical realms and can craft an insightful, cogent essay tailored just for you. Let’s make your philosophical journey an enlightening one.

Useful References

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• PhilPapers: Online Research in Philosophy
• MIT’s Free Philosophy Course Materials

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100+ Philosophy Research Paper Topics

One of the most difficult tasks philosophy students faces each year is in having to come up with a philosophy topic to write a paper on. Students can get notifications of big projects months ahead of time and then spend weeks trying to figure out whether their philosophy essay topics are good enough to earn a good grade.

We get it. It’s hard to pull this task together with schedules and responsibilities. This is why we work to find philosophical topics that are current and relatable. We stick to important issues that are at the forefront of the discipline and bring them to you in one convenient philosophical topic for the essay list.

Finding the right philosophy topics can turn regular assignments into A+-winning assignments and we’ve done the work to help you and hundreds of other students get started with these philosophy paper topics. Here are our top 100 philosophy topics for the current school year:

Argumentative Philosophy Research Paper Topics

• Do people naturally have good and bad qualities?
• Do we need family support to find happiness?
• How humans can be happy without reproduction?
• What is the definitive explanation of happiness?
• Do most people feel they aren’t living their full lives?
• Would you marry for money if it meant you could never be happy?
• Would you like to live your life more than once?
• Would you rather work vocationalation job or a high-paying job?
• Are personalities unique or are they just template?
• Do you think that it is moral to follow all the rules?

Good Philosophy Paper Topics for All Levels

• Does one need to lead a moral life to achieve happiness?
• Why do people find life harder than expected?
• Which is the better teacher? Experience or learning?
• Do people always do what they want at that moment?
• Is truth universal or does it change because of perspective?
• Do animals have a better sense of morals than humans?
• Can people gain an education without proper schooling?
• Does one need to be literate to understand philosophy?
• Which ie preferable? Determinism or Free Will?
• Is capital punishment ethical in today’s world?

Controversial Topics in Philosophy

• How does society shape a person’s life and beliefs?
• Do you need a lot of money to live a rich life?
• Why are some people living without actually experiencing things?
• Is spiritual power more important than free will?
• Do genetics play a bigger role in the way people behave?
• What impact does the word “love” have on positivity?
• What is the real reason we live our lives?
• Is it possible to form a perfect world?
• Do religion and philosophy contradict one another?
• Can a world exist without laws or regulations?

Fun Philosophy Paper Topics for High School

• What would be your form ideal government?
• What are the different ways in which humans understand each other?
• How is the concept of happiness defined by different philosophers?
• Is existence simply a dream experienced by a larger being?
• If you can spend a week in any period, which would it be?
• Are we alone in our galaxy or are there other intelligent life forms?
• What does it mean to have free will versus determinism?
• If you can change one thing from your past, what would it be?
• Does religion limit our abilities to explore the meaning of life?
• What does it mean to be loved or to love others?

Topics for Philosophy Paper on the Classics

• What does it mean to understand our universe?
• Does happiness come from our actions toward others?
• Are our thoughts evidence that we exist?
• What is the definition of evil as it relates to the modern world?
• Could societies exist without laws and regulations?
• Are people born good or evil or are they raised to be one or the other?
• Is torture a justifiable form of punishment?
• How can past leaders influence today’s youth positively?
• Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder?
• Can we refocus our minds to think more positively?

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics for High School

• What does it mean to be moral in today’s world?
• Can wars be justified if it supports the greater population?
• What does it mean to be a postmodern philosopher?
• What are today’s most important life values?
• What is the current perspective on the definition of loneliness?
• How does one prepare for life after death?
• Would you like to repeat your life with full knowledge of the prior?
• Does something better than nothing always lead to benefits?
• Do people choose to suffer or is it a feeling beyond our control?
• Should people have to right to die by suicide?

Philosophy Topics to Write About Quickly

• Do we exist in some form after death?
• Do supernatural entities exist in the world?
• Are video games negatively impacting people’s moral values?
• How does one boost his or her ability to be creative?
• Is it important to spend your entire life learning?
• What does it mean to be mentally conscious?
• What is the definition of loneliness and have you experienced it?
• What are the most important character traits for leaders to have?
• Does one need a lot of money to be considered rich?
• Are we alone in the universe or is there another life?

Philosophical Topics for Essays on Current Issues

• Are parents responsible for how their children behave?
• Are the U.S. and U.K. meritocratic societies?
• Has social media had an impact on people’s morals?
• Do you agree with the notion that love only exists for 3 years?
• Are humans more likely to cause trouble because of boredom?
• Is capital punishment morally justified in modern society?
• Do humans have the same ideas about what is right and what is wrong?
• How does death affect how humans view life?
• Is it complicated to live a life of happiness?
• Should teenagers be given the responsibility to make their own choices?

Philosophy Thesis Topics for a Big Project

• Do religion and the belief in God change a person’s behavior?
• Are Machiavellian ideals still relevant in today’s government?
• Is animal experimentation ever justified to protect humans?
• What are the pros and cons of a utilitarian society?
• What are the pros and cons of a communist government?
• Why are humans the only species to be violent?
• Is economic justice more important than legal justice?
• Should women have univerabortion rightstion?
• What impact did the 20th-century wave of philosophy have on the U.S.?
• How do you know that you are different from other people?

Philosophy Research Paper Topics

• What are the tendencies we see most in humans?
• Are our morals connected to or influenced by culture?
• Would you live your life a second time?
• Should religion have a voice in a nation’s government?
• What do you think makes for an ideal society?
• Are truths relative to specific situations or circumstances?
• What is the most important aspect to gain human knowledge?
• What is something that veritably upsets you?
• What is something in your life that you would like to change?
• What is the most effective way to increase one’s IQ?

Getting a good grade on a philosophy research paper requires you to consider several different options and narrow down those options to a topic you feel you can conduct complete philosophy research on. The topic should also be something that interests you and verges into new areas in the discipline and area of study. This can be a difficult task for many students, so we create custom philosophy research topics to suit every situation. If you can’t find a topic you like from this list, just give us a call, email us, or send us a message via chat. We can direct you to a qualified philosophy expert writer to create a custom list of philosophical ideas to fit your assignment needs.

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160 Philosophy Essay Topics

An essay on a philosophical topic can be challenging in several different ways. If you haven’t been assigned a topic, then you need to carefully consider both the type of philosophy you want to illuminate as well as the topic and the philosopher who originally championed the idea. This calls for a fair amount of research. If you need a place to start, there is an extensive list of topics below that are broken down by the schools of thought and/or the eras that inspired them.

Researching a Philosophy Topic

Philosophers are the embodiment of deep thinkers, and many of the best ones have offered up theories and perspectives that have gone on to influence the world. It helps to pick a specific school of thought, whether it is the classical Greek, Transcendentalism, Rationalism, or another, and then research the school of thought as well as the era that inspired them. This often calls for researching the specific philosophy and accomplishments of a specific philosopher.

While researching a topic or a school of thought try to think of examples you can cite in the body of the essay. This might be a historical example from the era the philosopher lived in or a real-world example that is pertinent today. A concept that was pertinent when it was originally written and is still relevant now will lend strength to your essay.

Tips for Writing a Philosophy Essay

Ideally, you want to choose a topic for your philosophy essay that has a strong and defensible position, as well as relevance in the present day. The research you have already done will provide you with an intellectual foundation to make a strong and well-supported argument.

When writing a philosophy essay, you want to compose it from a third-person point of view. This gives the essay an objective perspective that engages the reader while making it clear that the ideas being presented are not coming from your own personal bias. When providing supporting facts in your argument, make sure to quote them directly, include the source, and a relevant composition that it came from. You might also need to provide the date it was originally published.

How to Structure a Philosophy Essay

Depending on the required length of the philosophy essay, you can use a standard five-paragraph structure and expand the number of body paragraphs if necessary. This will give your philosophy essay a natural flow that makes it easy for the reader to follow.

This essay structure includes an introduction with a strong thesis statement, which might include a direct quote from a well-known philosopher. You then follow up with supporting body paragraphs that have their own distinct point that is supported by strong evidence, rather than flowing together into a single idea. Then you finish with a strong conclusion that illustrates the point or demonstrates its historical relevance or relevance in present times.

Introduction

A philosophy essay needs to directly state the topic in the introduction while enticing the reader to want to learn more about the topic. It’s best to use authoritative language, while also making sure that you are speaking to the reader, rather than talking down to them about a subject that might be disagreeable.

A strong thesis statement is a critical component of a philosophy essay’s introductory paragraph. The end of the introduction should include a sentence of two that leads into the first body paragraph.

Body Paragraphs

The first paragraph of your philosophy essay should have a strong connection to the thesis statement while also offering supporting evidence. This might include a direct quote from a philosopher or a well-known historical figure. Then make sure to document when it was said and who made the statement.

Each body paragraph should be its own idea and includes well-documented examples. If another philosopher argued against the thesis, you can include that information as well to demonstrate the counterpoint.

Each body paragraph should conclude with a sentence of two that leads into the next body paragraph’s point or central theme. If you are writing a topic that compares and contrasts two opposing opinions, you can give each view its own body paragraph.

The conclusion of your philosophy essay needs to have an assertive tone while providing a definite answer to the topic. This might be demonstrating why one view is more applicable to the modern world or why one view won out over the opposing view. If there is some lingering controversy about the topic, you should try to win encourage the reader to reexamine their own personal opinions on it.

Choosing the right topic for your philosophy essay can be challenging. There are many different schools of thought spanning thousands of years and historical eras. The following list of the topic below have been broken down into the schools of philosophy and relevant themes. They are a great jumping-off point for your research process.

Classical Greek and Roman Philosophy Topics

• Did Socrates really exist, or did Plato make him up to offer perceived validity to his own Philosophy?
• Does Aristotle’s concept of The Hearthless man have an equivalent in the modern age?
• Is Aristotle’s notion of Eudaimonia akin to the pursuit of happiness, or can Eudaimonia be accomplished like the Buddhist idea of Nirvana?
• In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics he discusses the different forms of human friendship. Compare and contrast the differences between Telia Philea and friendships of convenience. Using modern-day examples.
• Was Socrates’ decision to drink the hemlock the correct moral choice, or was he driven to accept suicide by his ego?
• Does Plato’s Republic make sexism acceptable in his age, or was Plato uninformed about the importance of equality in ancient Greek society?
• Aristotle’s idea of Hexus notes that nature fits us with emotion for a reason and that no emotion is morally wrong. Instead, Aristotle notes that it is the reason or virtue behind that emotion that constitutes a good or a bad Hexus. With this in mind can you give real-world examples of when Anger was virtuous and Happiness was devoid of moral virtue?
• What did Socrates mean when he said that “The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living?
• Are the stoic philosophers the bridge between classical Roman polytheism and Christianity?
• Would the Renaissance Era have been possible, had it not been for the Golden Age of Islam preserving Greek & Roman philosophy during the European Dark Ages?
• What Did Plato Mean when he said “Those who tell the stories rule society.”
• Explain Aristotle’s view on the importance of intellectual virtue.
• Was Aristotle correct when he said, “The Moral Virtues Are Not Innate?”
• What did Plato mean when he said, “knowledge only comes when we are able to justify and account for our true beliefs.”
• Why did Cicero convalesce to stoicism?
• What is the Epicurean philosophy of life?
• What do epicureans believe about happiness?
• Does epicurean philosophy have a place in modern life?
• Compare and contrast the difference between how pleasure is valued in epicurean philosophy compared to how to is valued in hedonism?
• Compare and contrast the difference between epicurean happiness and Artistotle’s view on eudaimonia.

Stoicism Topics

• What are the three main beliefs of stoicism?
• Did the stoics see Gods as omnipotent apart from nature, or integrated as an active element of the natural world?
• Why is self-control a critical component of stoic philosophy?
• How do the Stoics believe happiness is achieved?
• What are the two duties of stoicism?

Hedonism Topics

• Does hedonism recognize other motivations besides please and pain?
• How does hedonistic philosophy define good and evil?
• What is hedonist moral philosophy?
• How does hedonistic philosophy interpret the appreciation of art?
• What is aesthetic hedonism?
• Does hedonism promote substance abuse?
• Does hedonism encourage the objectification of women?
• Does hedonism promote internet pornography?
• Is the drive to legalize marijuana a form of hedonistic philosophy?
• Does hedonism treat alcoholism as permissible?

Nihilism Topics

• What are the four different types of nihilism and what makes them different?
• Is Nihilism inherently pessimistic or realistic?
• Can nihilism co-exist with religious belief?
• What did Nietzsche mean when he said “God Is Dead?”
• Why did Nietzsche believe that all imposed values and meanings need to be repudiated

Existentialism Topics

• Explain the relationship between Anxiety and Authenticity through the lens of existentialist philosophy.
• Explain Irrationality/Absurdity through the lens of existentialist philosophy.
• What is Cartesian Dualism?
• What did Des Carte mean when he said “I think therefore I am?”
• Explain Kierkegaard’s writing in the context of his approach to Christianity.
• Why do existentialist philosophers believe that it is impossible to find the true reasons and explanations of events?
• Explain Jean-Paul Sartre’s Opinions on Existentialism and Human Emotions.
• What is the influence of existentialism in Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage?
• What is the influence of Existentialism in the Literature of Samuel Beckett?
• How did existentialism influence Psychoanalysis, and Behaviorism?

Topics on Transcendentalism

• What did Emerson mean when he said “The mind once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions?”
• Did the philosophy of Emerson influence John Muir’s views on naturalism?
• What did Thoreau mean when he said a higher law than civil law demands the obedience of the individual.
• What is the common thread between the transcendentalist concepts of individualism, idealism, and the divinity of nature?
• What is the significance of the battle between the red ants and the black ants in Thoreau’s book On Waldon Pond?
• What did Thoreau mean when he wrote “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.”
• Compare and contrast the differences between Kant & Hume on the concept of transcendentalist idealism.
• Does transcendentalism offer a philosophy that promotes “The truest way of life?”
• Why is time in nature away from civilization a critical component of transcendental philosophy?
• What is the significance of Emerson’s “Consequences of Self-Doubt.”
• How does Transcendentalism make a link between philosophy and science
• Compare and contrast the differences between the American 19 th Century version of transcendentalism and the Eastern notions of transcendentalism.
• Explain transcendentalism’s conflict with the industrial revolution.
• Was John Muir a transcendentalist?
• Are Luddites their own philosophical system or an extreme version of transcendentalism?

Marxism Topics

• Has the negative relationship with failed communism hindered Marxism as a contemporary school of philosophy?
• What is the relationship between Marxism and social science?
• Explain Karl Marx’s Theory of Alienation.
• Do the ideologies of Marxism affect 21 st Century western culture?
• Why does Spencer believe that human nature is flexible and is in the process of advancement?
• How doe the concept of Surplus Value influence the division of social & economic classes?
• Why does Marxism devalue the importance of religion?
• Explain why the Young Hegelians refute religion in place of a philosophical system?
• Explain Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s view on the role of money in human life.
• Compare and contrast the differences between Marx’s view of socialism and the communism of Russia in the 20 th

Eastern Philosophy Topics

• Compare and contrast Zazen and Rinzai Zen forms of Buddhism.
• Is the “Ah-Ha” moment of “Satori” a requirement in the pursuit of nirvana as it is recognized in modern-day Buddhism?
• Is Buddhism a religion, a philosophical life practice, or both?
• The philosophy of the Buddha and Jesus of Nazareth are very similar. Though they both came from a completely different upbringing. Does this affect the principles of the religions they founded or is the exposure to the poverty of Jesus’ childhood and the wealth of the Buddha’s early years merely background details in their stories?
• When the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree he said “As the earth is my witness. Seeing this morning star, all things and I awaken together.”
• Why is begging for one’s meal an important tenant of classic Buddhist daily practice?
• How do Siddhartha’s four sights on the road influence the Buddha’s teaching about the four noble truths?
• What is the relationship between the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold path?
• When Siddhartha gives up asceticism he takes food from a peasant woman, what does this symbolize, and does it influence his eventual awakening as the Buddha?
• Does Herman Hess’ novel Siddhartha make Buddhism more or less accessible for Western culture to assimilate?
• What did the Buddha mean when he said “If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.”
• Is the Caste system of India based on moral philosophy and religious beliefs or is it a form of discrimination and classism?
• In Hindu philosophy what is the difference between dharma, and karma?
• Can the concept of Karmic rebirth be used to forgive someone’s misdeeds in this current life?
• Compare and contrast the moral influence of reincarnation offered by many Eastern Religions and the concept of eternal life offered by Christianity. How do these different philosophical concepts affect the choices made in everyday life?
• Do the six systems of Hindu philosophy Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta work together seamlessly?
• Is Sun Tzu’s The Art of War a philosophy text or an ancient military guide?
• What is the relationship of ren (humanity) and li (ritual propriety) in the philosophy of Confucius?
• Explain the Confucian concept of de “Virtue.”
• How did the philosophy of Mencius and Xunzi differ from the philosophy of Confucius?
• How does the philosophy of Confucius address Family, filial piety,and ancestor worship?
• Is Neo-Confucian critical of Daoism and Buddhism
• Does Neo-Confucian philosophy offer up effective solutions to the problem of evil?
• Explain the Cheng-Zhu theory of human nature.
• Explain Neo-Confucian theories of mind and how it applies to modern culture
• What are the main tenents of Taoism?
• How are currents interpreted in Taology?
• Does the Tao concept of Letting Go have value in modern western culture?
• In Taoism is there a connective relationship between simplicity, patience, and compassion.
• Does Daoism compete with Confucianism or stand beside it?

Philosophy in Modern Literature and Movies

• Is the novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance truly about the Metaphysics of Quality, or is it Robert Pirsig attempting to cope with his electroshock therapy experience?
• Does William Van De Wettering’s novel The Empty Mirror make the Zen practice of Koan study more feasible, or less accessible to Westerner modalities of thinking?
• In Kahlil Gibran’s book The Prophet he says “If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don’t, they never were.” What did he mean by this?
• In Primo Levi’s book Bear Meat, he said “the sea’s only gifts are harsh blows and, occasionally, the chance to feel strong. Now, I don’t know much about the sea, but I do know that that’s the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong, to measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions, facing blind, deaf stone alone, with nothing to help you but your own hands and your own head.” What does he mean by this?
• Is Dan Millman’s book “The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior” a bridge between Buddhist philosophy and Western Culture or is it a standalone philosophy onto itself?
• Explain the existentialist philosophy of the Shawshank Redemption?
• In Into The Wild does Chris McCandless succeed in “Killing The False Being Within?”
• Does the philosophy of the Celestine Prophecy offer a realistic way of life, or is it better off being classified as fiction?
• Does the heightened compassionate approach to the medical philosophy of Patch Adams have a place in modern medicine?
• Is transcendentalism properly represented in the movie Dead Poet’s Society?

Rationalism Topics

• Compare and contrast the differences between rationalism and empiricism.
• Is rationalism’s view of questioning everything tediously unnecessary?
• Is Des Carte truly a rationalist philosopher.
• Is there a difference between traditional rationalism and the Scottish Englightenment?
• What caused the Scottish Enlightenment.
• Compare and contrast the differences between the philosophy of David Hume and Adam Smith.
• Compare and contrast the differing philosophies of David Hume and Des Cartes.
• How does rationalism address the theory of knowledge?
• What is the conflict between rationalism and the romantic movement?
• Is constructivism a separate philosophy or a form of rationalism?

Humanism Topics

• Does humanist philosophy promote atheism?
• What are the three core beliefs of humanism philosophy?
• How has humanism philosophy influenced modern psychology?
• How has humanism philosophy changed over the last century?
• As a metaphysical doctrine, how does humanism related to the natural world?
• Does humanism reject the philosophical divinity of nature in transcendentalism?
• Humanism borrows many aspects of Aristotle’s notion of Eudaimonia, but not all of them, why?
• What is the importance of self-determination in humanism philosophy?
• Does humanism support scientific skepticism?
• How has humanism influenced modern politics?

Middle Eastern Philosophy

• Has the Koran discouraged the development of Middle Eastern Philosophy
• Is Islam a philosophy or a religion?
• Is Arabian philosophy a derivative of Classical Greek philosophy?
• Was the Golden Age of Islam bolstered by Classical Greek philosophy?
• What is Arabic Logic?
• Platos influence on Ab? Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyy? al-R?z?.
• How the philosophy of Saadia Gaon influenced Jewish Law.
• How did Yahya ibn Adi use philosophical knowledge to produce defenses of Christian theology that were grounded in classical thought?
• The influence of Aristotle on Avicenna.
• How did Aristotle influence Sohrevardi in founding the Islamic school of Illuminations?
• How did Fakhr al-Din al-Razi integrate philosophy into his model for the cosmos?
• How did the philosophy of Kâtip Çelebi influence 16th and 17th-century social change in the Ottoman empire
• How did the philosophy of Dara Shikoh find common underpinnings shared by Hinduism and Islam?
• How did the philosophy of Muhammad Abduh help introduce liberal thought to the Islamic world?
• How did Fatema Mernissi address the conditions for women in the Islamic world?

Political Philosophy Topics

• How do ethics affect socio-political policy?
• Is agrarianism philosophy represented in today’s political parties?
• How did the Federalist papers influence our modern democratic system?
• What is the difference between liberalism and socialism?
• What is the difference between conservatism and fascism?
• What is libertarian political philosophy?
• Does paternalism still affect political philosophy?
• What is progressivism in political philosophy?
• Is effective altruism necessary for globalism to thrive?
• How would Socrates view our current notions of Civil Disobedience?

Let us know if you would like us to help you with your Philosophy Essay – we are glad to make it easier for you to success in your classes.

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1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology

Philosophy, One Thousand Words at a Time

How to Write a Philosophical Essay

Authors: The Editors of 1000-Word Philosophy [1] Category: Student Resources Word Count: 998

If you want to convince someone of a philosophical thesis, such as that God exists , that abortion is morally acceptable , or that we have free will , you can write a philosophy essay. [2]

Philosophy essays are different from essays in many other fields, but with planning and practice, anyone can write a good one. This essay provides some basic instructions. [3]

1. Planning

Typically, your purpose in writing an essay will be to argue for a certain thesis, i.e., to support a conclusion about a philosophical claim, argument, or theory. [4] You may also be asked to carefully explain someone else’s essay or argument. [5]

To begin, select a topic. Most instructors will be happy to discuss your topic with you before you start writing. Sometimes instructors give specific prompts with topics to choose from.

It’s generally best to select a topic that you’re interested in; you’ll put more energy into writing it. Your topic will determine what kind of research or preparation you need to do before writing, although in undergraduate philosophy courses, you usually don’t need to do outside research. [6]

Essays that defend or attack entire theories tend to be longer, and are more difficult to write convincingly, than essays that defend or attack particular arguments or objections: narrower is usually better than broader.

After selecting a topic, complete these steps:

• Ensure that you understand the relevant issues and arguments. Usually, it’s enough to carefully read and take notes on the assigned readings on your essay’s topic.
• Choose an initial thesis. Generally, you should choose a thesis that’s interesting, but not extremely controversial. [7] You don’t have to choose a thesis that you agree with, but it can help. (As you plan and write, you may decide to revise your thesis. This may require revising the rest of your essay, but sometimes that’s necessary, if you realize you want to defend a different thesis than the one you initially chose.)
• Ensure that your thesis is a philosophical thesis. Natural-scientific or social-scientific claims, such as that global warming is occurring or that people like to hang out with their friends , are not philosophical theses. [8] Philosophical theses are typically defended using careful reasoning, and not primarily by citing scientific observations.

Instructors will usually not ask you to come up with some argument that no philosopher has discovered before. But if your essay ignores what the assigned readings say, that suggests that you haven’t learned from those readings.

2. Structure

Develop an outline, rather than immediately launching into writing the whole essay; this helps with organizing the sections of your essay.

Your structure will probably look something like the following, but follow your assignment’s directions carefully. [9]

2.1. Introduction and Thesis

Write a short introductory paragraph that includes your thesis statement (e.g., “I will argue that eating meat is morally wrong”). The thesis statement is not a preview nor a plan; it’s not “I will consider whether eating meat is morally wrong.”

If your thesis statement is difficult to condense into one sentence, then it’s likely that you’re trying to argue for more than one thesis. [10]

2.2. Arguments

Include at least one paragraph that presents and explains an argument. It should be totally clear what reasons or evidence you’re offering to support your thesis.

In most essays for philosophy courses, you only need one central argument for your thesis. It’s better to present one argument and defend it well than present many arguments in superficial and incomplete ways.

2.3. Objection

Unless the essay must be extremely short, raise an objection to your argument. [11] Be clear exactly which part of the other argument (a premise, or the form) is being questioned or denied and why. [12]

It’s usually best to choose either one of the most common or one of the best objections. Imagine what a smart person who disagreed with you would say in response to your arguments, and respond to them.

Offer your own reply to any objections you considered. If you don’t have a convincing reply to the objection, you might want to go back and change your thesis to something more defensible.

2.5. Additional Objections and Replies

If you have space, you might consider and respond to the second-best or second-most-common objection to your argument, and so on.

2.6. Conclusion

To conclude, offer a paragraph summarizing what you did. Don’t include any new or controversial claims here, and don’t claim that you did more than you actually accomplished. There should be no surprises at the end of a philosophy essay.

Make your writing extremely clear and straightforward. Use simple sentences and don’t worry if they seem boring: this improves readability. [13] Every sentence should contribute in an obvious way towards supporting your thesis. If a claim might be confusing, state it in more than one way and then choose the best version.

To check for readability, you might read the essay aloud to an audience. Don’t try to make your writing entertaining: in philosophy, clear arguments are fun in themselves.

Concerning objections, treat those who disagree with you charitably. Make it seem as if you think they’re smart, careful, and nice, which is why you are responding to them.

Your readers, if they’re typical philosophers, will be looking for any possible way to object to what you say. Try to make your arguments “airtight.”

4. Citations

If your instructor tells you to use a certain citation style, use it. No citation style is universally accepted in philosophy. [14]

You usually don’t need to directly quote anyone. [15] You can paraphrase other authors; where you do, cite them.

Don’t plagiarize . [16] Most institutions impose severe penalties for academic dishonesty.

5. Conclusion

A well-written philosophy essay can help people gain a new perspective on some important issue; it might even change their minds. [17] And engaging in the process of writing a philosophical essay is one of the best ways to develop, understand, test, and sometimes change, your own philosophical views. They are well worth the time and effort.

[1] Primary author: Thomas Metcalf. Contributing authors: Chelsea Haramia, Dan Lowe, Nathan Nobis, Kristin Seemuth Whaley.

[2] You can also do some kind of oral presentation, either “live” in person or recorded on video. An effective presentation, however, requires the type of planning and preparation that’s needed to develop an effective philosophy paper: indeed, you may have to first write a paper and then use it as something like a script for your presentation. Some parts of the paper, e.g., section headings, statements of arguments, key quotes, and so on, you may want to use as visual aids in your presentation to help your audience better follow along and understand.

[3] Many of these recommendations are, however, based on the material in Horban (1993), Huemer (n.d.), Pryor (n.d.), and Rippon (2008). There is very little published research to cite about the claims in this essay, because these claims are typically justified by instructors’ experience, not, say, controlled experiments on different approaches to teaching philosophical writing. Therefore, the guidance offered here has been vetted by many professional philosophers with a collective hundreds of hours of undergraduate teaching experience and further collective hundreds of hours of taking philosophy courses. The editors of 1000-Word Philosophy also collectively have thousands of hours of experience in writing philosophy essays.

[4] For more about the areas of philosophy, see What is Philosophy? by Thomas Metcalf.

[5] For an explanation of what is meant by an “argument” in philosophy, see Arguments: Why Do You Believe What You Believe? by Thomas Metcalf.

[6] Outside research is sometimes discouraged, and even prohibited, for philosophy papers in introductory courses because a common goal of a philosophy paper is not to report on a number of views on a philosophical issue—so philosophy papers usually are not “research reports”—but to rather engage a specific argument or claim or theory, in a more narrow and focused way, and show that you understand the issue and have engaged in critically. If a paper engages in too much reporting of outside research, that can get in the way of this critical evaluation task.

[7] There are two reasons to avoid extremely controversial theses. First, such theses are usually more difficult to defend adequately. Second, you might offend your instructor, who might (fairly or not) give you a worse grade. So, for example, you might argue that abortion is usually permissible, or usually wrong, but you probably shouldn’t argue that anyone who has ever said the word ‘abortion’ should be tortured to death, and you probably shouldn’t argue that anyone who’s ever pregnant should immediately be forced to abort the pregnancy, because both of these claims are extremely implausible and so it’s very unlikely that good arguments could be developed for them. But theses that are controversial without being implausible can be interesting for both you and the instructor, depending on how you develop and defend your argument or arguments for that thesis.

[8] Whether a thesis is philosophical mostly depends on whether it is a lot like theses that have been defended in important works of philosophy. That means it would be a thesis about metaphysics, epistemology, value theory, logic, history of philosophy, or something therein. For more information, see Philosophy and Its Contrast with Science and What is Philosophy? both by Thomas Metcalf.

[9] Also, read the grading rubric, if it’s available. If your course uses an online learning environment, such as Canvas, Moodle, or Schoology, then the rubric will often be visible as attached to the assignment itself. The rubric is a breakdown of the different requirements of the essay and how each is weighted and evaluated by the instructor. So, for example, if some requirement has a relatively high weight, you should put more effort into doing a good job. Similarly, some requirement might explicitly mention some step for the assignment that you need to complete in order to get full credit.

[10] In some academic fields, a “thesis” or “thesis statement” is considered both your conclusion and a statement of the basic support you will give for that conclusion. In philosophy, your thesis is usually just that conclusion: e..g, “Eating meat is wrong,” “God exists,” “Nobody has free will,” and so on: the support given for that conclusion is the support for your thesis.

[11] To be especially clear, this should be an objection to the argument given for your thesis or conclusion, not an objection to your thesis or conclusion itself. This is because you don’t want to give an argument and then have an objection that does not engage that argument, but instead engages something else, since that won’t help your reader or audience better understand and evaluate that argument.

[12] For more information about premises, forms, and objections, see Arguments: Why do You Believe What You Believe? by Thomas Metcalf.

[13] For a philosophical argument in favor of clear philosophical writing, and guidance on producing such writing, see Fischer and Nobis (2019).

[14] The most common styles in philosophy are APA (Purdue Online Writing Lab, n.d.a) and Chicago (Purdue Online Writing Lab, n.d.b.).

[15] You might choose to directly quote someone when it’s very important that the reader know that the quoted author actually said what you claim they said. For example, if you’re discussing some author who made some startling claim, you can directly quote them to show that they really said that. You might also directly quote someone when they presented some information or argument in a very concise, well-stated way, such that paraphrasing it would take up more space than simply quoting them would.

[16] Plagiarism, in general, occurs when someone submits written or spoken work that is largely copied, in style, substance, or both, from some other author’s work, and does not attribute it to that author. However, your institution or instructor may define “plagiarism” somewhat differently, so you should check with their definitions. When in doubt, check with your instructor first.

[17] These are instructions for relatively short, introductory-level philosophy essays. For more guidance, there are many useful philosophy-writing guides online to consult, e.g.: Horban (1993); Huemer (n.d.); Pryor (n.d.); Rippon (2008); Weinberg (2019).

Fischer, Bob and Nobis, Nathan. (2019, June 4). Why writing better will make you a better person. The Chronicle of Higher Education . 

Horban, Peter. (1993). Writing a philosophy paper. Simon Fraser University Department of Philosophy . 

Huemer, Michael. (N.d.). A guide to writing. Owl232.net .

Pryor, Jim. (N.d.). Guidelines on writing a philosophy paper. Jimpryor.net .

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (N.d.a.). General format. Purdue Online Writing Lab . 

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (N.d.b.). General format. Purdue Online Writing Lab .

Rippon, Simon. (2008). A brief guide to writing the philosophy paper. Harvard College Writing Center .

Weinberg, Justin. (2019, January 15). How to write a philosophy paper: Online guides. Daily Nous .

Related Essays

Arguments: Why do You Believe What You Believe? by Thomas Metcalf

Philosophy and its Contrast with Science by Thomas Metcalf

What is Philosophy? By Thomas Metcalf

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357 Philosophical Topics to Write About for Essays & Term Papers

• 🔝 Top-10 Philosophy Topics
• ⛪ Philosophy of Religion
• 🗳️ Political Philosophy
• ⚖️ Philosophy of Law
• 🔬 Philosophy of Science
• 😊 Easy Philosophy Topics
• 😀 Fun Philosophy Topics

✅ Philosophy Argumentative Essay Topics

📝 philosophy term paper topics, ✒️ philosophical topics to write about, ❓ philosophy essay questions.

• ✍️ Bonus: 17 Writing Tips

There is a joke that in successful relationships, one becomes happy, and in unsuccessful, one becomes a philosopher. Unfortunately, that could be true only if the person read philosophical books on philosophy or developed their philosophical research theories in the latter case.

Philosophy is a Greek word meaning “love for wisdom.” It analyzes how we perceive the outside and inner world using logic and reason. This discipline teaches us close reading, clear writing, critical thinking, and logical analysis. These methods try to formulate the appropriate language to describe reality and our place in it.

🔝 Top-10 Philosophy Essay Topics

• How does death shape the meaning of life?
• Do our senses reflect the accurate picture of the world?
• Why do we consider some actions to be morally incorrect?
• Is there a correct way to live a life?
• What makes humans different from other mammals?
• If art is subjective, how can we tell whether a given artist is talented or not?
• Knowledge can hurt. Why do we strive for it?
• Idealism: A way to perfection or fantasy?
• Does love have a meaning beyond itself?
• Should happiness be the ultimate purpose in life?

⛪ Philosophy of Religion Topics

• Do religious beliefs contradict scientific thinking?
• Does religion improve or degrade humanity?
• Religion and Politics in Durkheim’s Theories .
• The belief system of each person limits their faith.
• How do different faiths envision the ultimate reality?
• Islam and Its Influence on the World Society.
• Can God’s existence be justified on rational grounds?
• If God exists, does it mean that only one religion is genuine?
• Same-sex Marriage as a Religious Issue .
• Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omnibenevolent: Is that true?
• What is the source of any religious belief?
• Descartes’ proof of the existence of God.
• Philosophy and religion: theory and practice.
• Differences between religion and philosophy of religion.
• Does philosophy admit that god exists?
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• Harmonization of god’s purposes with human goods in Kant’s philosophy.
• Reason and religious belief. An introduction to The Philosophy of Religion’ by M. Peterson.
• Religious Studies and Theology.
• Aristotle’s god: the universal source of change in the universe.
• Human rights from the perspective of Islam .
• Christian Religious Fundamentalism and Family Role Identities .
• Do you think the five philosophical proofs of god’s existence are trustworthy?
• Evangelical theology: Jesus Christ.
• Does Hegel’s doctrine of god match Christian theology ?
• Religion and public life in “American Grace” by Putnam.
• Pragmatic views in “The Will to Believe” by William James.
• God in Descartes and Nietzsche.
• Which model of faith do you prefer?
• Sociology of religion: purpose and concept.
• Describe the constant conflict of creationism.
• Relation between god, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
• Can religious experiences confirm the existence of ultimate reality?
• Islamic civilization: religious practices.
• How could one distinguish the genuine experience of god from the ungenuine?
• What is the highest good in Buddhism ?
• Descartes and God’s existence.
• Is morality possible without religion?
• Buddhism: teachings of Buddha.
• Can there be free will if god is omniscient?
• Afterlife in different world cultures.
• Miracle: A transgression of the natural law or a transgression of our understanding of it?
• Which side of the mind-body debate would you take?
• Religious beliefs and political decisions.
• Establish the relationship between a person’s belief in the afterlife and their theistic position.
• Karma, dharma, and samsara in Indian religions.
• How to make sense of religious diversity?
• Conceptions of Christ.
• Can the language of god be understood from the human position?
• Judaism concepts.
• The nature of miracles in the philosophy of religion.
• Moses in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
• The difference in the conceptions of god in monotheist and pantheist religions.
• World religions studies and key concepts.
• Does the doctrine of the trinity relate Christianism to pantheism?
• What is the logical problem of evil?

🗳️ Topics in Political Philosophy

• Why is the term “political” a problem in philosophy?
• The Research of Morality in Politics.
• Why is climate change an issue for political philosophy?
• Political Science, Philosophy & Social Criticism.
• Is it possible to establish global justice?
• What does it take to be a free citizen?
• Political Ideologies From the Philosophic Point of View.
• Does a fair way to distribute wealth exist?
• Does a nation owe anything to another country?
• Utopia: ideal state basic principles.
• What are the limits of the legal obligations of a citizen?
• The destructive nature of capitalism.
• Civil liberties in the supreme court.
• Nationalism vs. Cosmopolitanism: A comparative study.
• Political justice: Muslims discrimination.
• The equality in opportunity for racial justice.
• Marxism and realism in international relationships.
• What are an individual’s rights against the state?
• Karl Marx’s ideas: society alienation and conflict theory.
• Alternative theories in international relations.
• Is democracy another unattainable ideal?
• International relations theories: realism & green politics.
• To which degree should the state force its people to do something for their own good?
• Democracy: pluralist theory and elite theory.
• Realist versus liberal international relations theory.
• Democracy vs. Epistocracy: which one do you support and why?
• Realism and idealism in modern international relations.
• Does the government have the moral right to ban unhealthy behavior?
• Liberal international relations theories and global security.
• Explain the importance of political philosophy in the education of future citizens.
• Italian fascism and German nazism contrast analysis.
• What could Aristotle tell us about the world of globalization: A critical study of ancient philosophy.
• Political realism is the theory of international relations.
• Why are there no permanent answers in political philosophy?
• The role of the state: ideologies and policies.
• What are the principal goals of a decent society?
• Marxism philosophy, a constitutional republic, and American criminal justice.
• Why should a person obey the law?
• The Idea of Republican Theory
• What is the basis of human dignity: freedom, virtue, friendship, and love?
• Neoliberalism: history and modern perception.
• What are the meeting points between the philosophy of religion and political philosophy?
• “The german ideology” by Karl Marx and materialism.
• Is there a single best political regime?
• Karl Marx’s theory of exploitation: a critical analysis.
• Can humanity exist without wars?
• Tocqueville and the idea of America moving toward communism.
• The mechanism of redirecting conflict to the common good in politics.
• The essential concepts and principles of democracy.
• Is international politics a sum of the regimes of the member countries?
• Concept and the significance of soft power.
• What is the standard character type of a democratic society
• Democratic society and the capitalist system.
• What is the most praiseworthy thing for a community?
• “Civil disobedience” essay by Henry David Thoreau.
• Do you believe that humanity will find something better than democracy in the future?
• Bureaucracy and its role in society.
• Are people capable of establishing a government based on reflection and choice?
• Federalism: challenges and debates.
• What are the qualities of successful and wise statesmanship?
• Neoliberalism and human suffering.

⚖️ Philosophy of Law Topics

• Should we obey the law because of fear of punishment or because it is good?
• Capital Punishment: The Philosophical Perspective.
• Why cannot humanity adopt single legislation for all countries?
• Individual and Social Theories in Explaining a Crime .
• The difference between consequential and categorical moral reasoning of crimes.
• The theory of rational choice in criminology.
• Are the institutions of punishment morally justifiable?
• Stanford Prison Experiment and Its Consequences.
• Wrongful conviction in the criminal court system.
• A Utilitarian Approach to Capital Punishment.
• What distinguishes law from ethical norms?
• Crime theories and countermeasures.
• How did the principal legal issues transform through the ages?
• Assisted suicide: euthanasia and self-determination.
• Do the changes in morality entail changes in the legal systems?
• The common law background of the Fourth Amendment.
• Is morality objective or subjective?
• Is healthcare a civil or human right?
• Can the empowerment of a certain population group limit the opportunities for another?
• Rights protected by the Second Amendment.
• Where is the line between the right to free speech and discrimination?
• Poverty or low income as a cause of crime.
• Can we say that law has conventional nature?
• Constitution and system of separation of powers.
• A legal system requires a sanction for non-compliance.
• Rights and freedoms in the US.
• Legal realism: the law is the product of court decisions.
• The financial cost of crime to society.
• The law of human interpretation in law.
• Is the Bill of Rights necessary or not?
• Deontology : preserving the autonomy of other people.
• Importance of drug legalization in the USA.
• The abortion debate – understanding the issues.
• Life in prison and death penalty comparison.
• Capital punishment and the concept of redemption.
• Death penalty for and against.

👼 Philosophy & Ethics Topics

• Moral right and wrong vs. moral good and evil: A personal experience.
• Capital Punishment and Its Ethics.
• Any society has its specific moral outlook.
• Positive Psychology and Philosophical Concepts.
• Ethics and morality: Interchangeable terms?
• Ethical Decision-Making & Counseling on Abortion.
• Will humanity ever find a correct way to live?
• Philosophical Ethical Theories: Kantianism and Utilitarianism .
• Should secondary education comprise ethics?
• What is the current theory of ethics prevailing in philosophy?
• Death Penalty: Crime and Morality.
• Ethics in Descartes and Nietzsche.
• Does the level of schooling define a person’s morality?
• “The Allegory of the Cave” – The philosophy of Plato and Socrates.
• Is there a moral justification for the class system?
• Is there anything morally wrong with abortions?
• Moral Philosophy and Peter Singer.
• Lawyers and ethics: the attorney-client privilege.
• Mass surveillance as an anti-crime measure: An ethical perspective.
• Equal consideration of interests to non-human animals.
• Is honesty a must for a moral person?
• Police ethics and misconduct.
• Wealth: A prerequisite for charitable actions?
• Do we have a moral responsibility over developing countries?
• The ethics of cloning: morality and issues.
• The ethical side of human cloning.
• Should governments consider the ethical aspects of new laws?
• Morality, ethics, and ethical integrity.
• The ethics of discrimination: is there any?
• Censorship: should we ban morally harmful content?
• Lifestyles in Don Giovanni and Dangerous Liaisons.
• Are criminals evil by nature?
• Animal experiments: benefits, ethics, and defenders.
• Do you support or discard utilitarianism ?
• Do you think there is such a thing as a moral fact?
• Animal research, its ineffectiveness, and amorality.
• Can ethical rules limit free will?
• Ethical life issues in works by Cicero and C.S. Lewis.
• Write a dissertation on the drivers of human behavior.
• The problem of moral superiority.
• Socrates and Thrasymachus’ views on justice in Plato’s Republic.
• Do we have the right to restrict the immigrant inflow?
• Does every action presuppose an intent?
• Plato and Kant’s understanding of justice.
• Does the current state of morality make us civilized?
• Case study on models of making ethical decisions.
• Is a good death possible?
• Al-Ghazali philosophy.
• Deontological ethics vs. value ethics: Research project.
• Does there exist a bad motivation for procreation?
• Euthyphro’s definition of “Holiness” or “Piety.”
• Ethics in the institutions of global governance.
• Nihilism in Nietzsche’s, Kierkegaard’s, and Heidegger’s views.

🔬 Philosophy of Science Essay Topics

• The future of technology : The responsibility of philosophers?
• Human Being in the Modern Science.
• Time travel: Should we learn to do that?
• Thinking and Intelligence in Psychological Science.
• Is artificial intelligence our only hope for unparalleled technological development?
• Explain the distinction between science and non-science.
• Einstein and his Contribution to Science .
• What are the ultimate aims of science?
• Is there a universal way to interpret scientific findings?
• St. Thomas Aquinas’ cosmological argument analysis.
• A scientific theory and antirealism: Useful but not trustworthy.
• Is the philosophy of science useful for scientists?
• Debates of Using Animals in Scientific Analysis .
• Theory vs. empirical data: What comes first?
• Hobbes and Locke in the state of nature.
• What is a measurement in science?
• The Vienna Circle of Positivism: A historical outlook.
• Legal Positivism and Natural Theory .
• How and why did the science of ecology emerge?
• Popper’s philosophy of science and falsification.
• Describe the difference between a semantic view and a model-based approach.
• Which research problems compose the evolutionary theory ?
• Philosophical views and cultural influences.
• What does it take to obtain authoritative knowledge ?
• Analyze the social nature of any scientific knowledge.
• Clifford’s and James’ knowledge theories.
• Does gender define trust in science?
• What does it mean to be an objective scientist?
• Feminist Approaches to Gender and Science Issues.
• Mind plus computer: Homunculus theory.
• Compare Aristotle’s and Plato’s approaches to knowledge.

😊 Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

• Do you believe in the extra-sensory powers of some people?
• In which ways does God speak to people?
• Death as the Final Destination.
• Describe the future of humanity in 200 years.
• Aristotle and relationships at work.
• The way we treat nature is worse than ever before.
• Describe the ideal society.
• The Role of the Belief System in Projecting the Future.
• Analyze the most famous words of your favorite philosopher.
• Dreams: A parallel world or our fears and wishes?
• A fallacy: term definition and examples.
• Heaven and hell are our visions of good and evil.
• What is the nature of intuition?
• Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill’s Moral Theories .
• Why do people lie?
• Mind-body relationship.
• Onlooker’s responsibility: When should you not interfere?
• When do children become adults?
• Skepticism Theory of Knowledge .
• Each death is a tiny end of the world.
• People and the meaning of life.
• Can international relations be moral?
• Happiness or success: What is our purpose?
• The Concept of Justice According to Socrates and Augustine .
• Are human virtues so good for everyone?
• Plato’s allegory of the cave.
• What would happen if animals spoke?
• Luck is a form of optimism.
• The relationship between money and happiness.
• Where does responsibility come from?
• Virtue and Human Good by Aristotle and Socrates .
• Tolerance: A gateway to discrimination?

😀 Fun Philosophy Paper Topics

• Why are clowns scary and fun at the same time?
• How do our names define our personalities?
• Why Do We Make Bad Decisions?
• Light meal vs. large snack: How do we form our eating habits?
• How do you know you are not sleeping now?
• Why Do People Behave the Way They Do?
• Why don’t passengers get a parachute on a plane?
• How do you think your pet calls you?
• What Justifies My Existence?
• What makes you “elderly?”
• Why Do Adolescents Engage in Risk-Taking Behaviors?
• Embalming the dead: The pointless attempt to stop decomposition.
• What is the gap between living and existing?
• Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized?
• Is it moral for a vegetarian to eat animal-shaped cookies?
• Most time-saving devices are a total waste of time.
• Why Does Crime Require Punishment?
• Does a white painting on white paper exist?
• If you plan to fail, do you succeed when it happens?
• Why Should We Pay for Music?
• Everyone can be replaced.
• What would happen if you told only the truth?
• Why Are Reality Shows So Popular ?
• Knowing the date of your death: The best motivator?
• Who do we owe for our success?
• Courage and Fear: What Do You Know About Them?
• How do you know that something has a meaning?
• What does it mean to control your life?
• What Is Consciousness and How Does It Work?
• What comes first: the ends or the means?
• Is utilitarianism morally correct?
• Should abortion be legal around the world?
• Are current policies properly protecting individuals from discrimination?
• Does Plato provide a compelling argument for the immortality of the soul?
• Al Gore and Steven Koonin have competing views on climate change awareness. Which one is better?
• Should hate speech on the Internet and social media be prohibited?
• Has feminism as a movement accomplished all of its goals?
• Is presentness a real property of events?
• Is it acceptable to have zoos and circuses?
• Do wealthy countries have a moral obligation to help reduce global hunger?
• Does faith in God transform a person?
• Michael Bloomberg and Wayne LaPierre have opposite views on gun control. Which one is better?
• The development of the notion of government by social contract.
• The issues of democracy and possible solutions.
• Civil disobedience and its efficiency in advancing social change today.
• The role of government in the distribution of economic justice.
• The textual genesis of Wittgenstein’s philosophical investigations.
• The defense of Julian Simon’s views of the environmental crisis.
• The essence of time: how do we perceive the past, present, and future?
• The current status of measures of spirituality.
• The problem of free will in the context of metaphysics.
• Analysis of Isaiah Berlin’s understanding of “positive” and “negative” liberty.
• The key principles of just and unjust wars.
• The morality of field research on animals.
• The absolute way to achieve a happy state of mind.
• What is the problem with synthetic a priori knowledge?
• The role of AI technologies in wiping humanity.
• True beauty: subjective or objective?
• The meaning of rich and poor in the modern world.
• The importance of having a perfect life.
• Does religion have an impact on scientific thinking?
• The role of spirituality in a world of material prosperity.
• Life purpose and methods to find it.
• The possibility of time travel in the modern world.
• The methods to control human thoughts.
• Is it beneficial to be aware of your consciousness?
• How can we know for certain that there is an afterlife?
• Why are people the biggest threat to humanity?
• Does religion provoke more conflict than it solves?
• Does effective time management make our lives more meaningful and happier?
• Can money buy happiness?
• Why do we respect dead people more than the living?
• Is peace the only way to stop war?
• What is the primary goal of humanity?
• How does consciousness fit into the physical world?
• Will stronger regulations create a better world?
• How do we know about what there is outside of ourselves?
• Do guns protect people or kill people?

✍️ Bonus: 17 Tips on Writing a Philosophy Paper

When you’re assigned a philosophy paper, it can be a perfect moment to obtain a philosophical attitude: “This too shall pass.” However, while working on it, it’s better to concentrate and make maximum effort to do it right. Here are 17 quick tips that can help you a lot.

• Scholar.google.com
• The OALster database
• Internet Public Library
• Biblioscape
• Brainstorm your topic. This simple method can save you plenty of time and bring surprising results. Set a timer and try to generate as many ideas as possible within a chosen time period. Make it a rule to write down every idea crossing your mind (even if it seems crazy). You’ll have time to sort out your ideas later.
• Create an outline. After you choose all major arguments, work on the logical structure of your paper. As an option, draw a mind map for your would-be paper.
• Create a thesis statement. Just like any other academic paper, your Philosophy term paper will require a strong thesis statement, the last sentence in the introduction part, and briefly summarizing the main idea of your paper.
• Write a stunning introduction. Start with an attention hook – a quote, a rhetorical question, striking stats, or an interesting fact.
• Explain why you chose this topic.
• Write an effective literature review. Divide your sources into groups according to the authors’ conclusions. Point out the gap in the literature.
• Make transitions between sections. Make your Philosophy term papers flow. Just a couple of words connecting sections can improve the logical structure of your paper.
• Use hamburger paragraph structure. Start every paragraph with a topic sentence – a brief summary of what you’re going to discuss in the paragraph. Complete every paragraph with a concluding sentence – a brief repetition of what you’ve just said. It’s a great way to make your writing more logical and convincing.
• Spend 70% of word count on your own ideas. One of the best things about Philosophy writing is that you should include your own vision of the problem. Instead of jumping from one quote to another one, balance the quotes you use by adding your own ideas.
• Align your ideas with your course readings. Include a couple of terms you discussed in class or heard in lectures in your Philosophy term papers to impress your teachers.
• Discuss counterarguments. Show your deep understanding of the topic, shedding light on the conflicting points of view.
• Point out the limitations. Show your analytical thinking. Make it obvious that you understand that any research can have certain flaws, such as sampling or research method.
• Use spell, grammar, style, and plagiarism checkers. The software can help you improve the quality of your writing and help you avoid trouble.
• Cite all sources. Make sure that you give credit to the authors whose writing you used.
• Write a logical conclusion. Briefly repeat what you have said in your paper and add a new perspective – ideas for further research. Avoid including any new information in the conclusion of your Philosophy term paper.

We hope that our examples of philosophy topics for essays have inspired your philosophical thinking. Still, if you haven’t found what you are looking for, try out the topic generator . Enter the related keyword and check dozens of philosophy of science essay topics, philosophy of law topics, and many more.

❓ Philosophy Essay FAQ

What topics are in philosophy.

Philosophy topics for essays are subdivided into topics on law, politics, science, ethics, existential issues, and philosophy of religion topics. You can also research feminism, logical argumentation, human rationality, empiricism, stoicism, metaphysics, and epistemology. The broadest and the most exciting title could be: What is the world we live in really like?

How to Come up With a Topic in Philosophy?

• Select the domain. Would you like to discuss ethics, metaphysics, or epistemology? These are the three pillars of philosophy.
• If you prefer something more practical, choose topics on political philosophy.
• Read through your notes over the last semester. You will find an interesting research question.

What Is a Good Philosophy Essay Topic?

A good philosophy topic for an essay does not reveal your position but instead suggests an argumentative question. Does life have a superior meaning? Does an individual have the right to suicide? Can we build a happy society without international conflicts? Such questions allow you to develop arguments and explain your opinion.

What Are Easy Topics to Write About on Philosophy?

Philosophy ethics topics are probably the easiest papers to write because each person has their moral code, which could serve as a reference point. Consider the following:

• Why do all societies have different moral standards?
• Is there a universal paradigm of ethics?
• Is it ethical to apply euthanasia?

🔗 References

• Why Study Philosophy? | University of Washington
• Research Areas | Department of Philosophy
• How death shapes life | The Harvard Gazette
• Reflections on Death in Philosophical/Existential Context
• Research Overview | Department of Philosophy
• Philosophy of art | Britannica
• Research Clusters – Philosophy – Columbia University
• Political philosophy | Britannica

IELTS Preparation Tips & Resources [How to Study IELTS by Myself?]

How to prepare for pte academic test: study guide & tips.

• Faculty of Arts
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Philosophy essay writing guide

Introduction.

This guide is intended to give new students of philosophy some preliminary advice about writing philosophy essays at university. For many of you, writing a philosophy essay will be something of a new experience, and no doubt many of you will be a little unsure of what to expect, or of what is expected of you. Most of you will have written essays in school for English, History, etc. A philosophy essay is something a little different again. However, it is not an unfathomable, mysterious affair, nor one where anything goes.

Just what a philosophy essay is will depend a lot, as you'd expect, on just what philosophy is. Defining philosophy is always a more or less controversial business, but one way to think of what is done in university philosophy departments is to think of the difference between having a philosophy and doing philosophy. Virtually everyone "has a philosophy" in the sense that we have many basic beliefs about the world and ourselves and use certain key concepts to articulate those beliefs. Many of us initially come to thus "have a philosophy" (or elements of several philosophies) often only unconsciously, or by following "what's obvious" or "what everybody knows", or by adopting a view because it sounds exciting or is intellectually fashionable.

"Doing philosophy", on the other hand, is a self-conscious unearthing and rigorous examination of these basic beliefs and key concepts. In doing so, we try to clarify the meanings of those beliefs and concepts and to evaluate critically their rational grounds or justification. Thus, rather than having their heads in the clouds, philosophers are really more under the surface of our thinking, examining the structures that support - or fail to support - those who trust that they have their feet on the ground. Such examination may even help to develop new and firmer ground.

Doing philosophy, then, begins with asking questions about the fundamental ideas and concepts that inform our ways of looking at the world and ourselves, and proceeds by developing responses to those questions which seek to gain insight into those ideas and concepts - and part of that development consists in asking further questions, giving further responses, and so on. Human beings across the world have been engaged in this sort of dialogue of question and response for many centuries - even millennia - and a number of great traditions of reflection and inquiry have evolved that have fundamentally influenced the development of religion, art, science and politics in many cultures. The influence of philosophical thinking on Western civilization, in particular, can be traced back more than 2,500 years to the Ancient Greeks.

In philosophy, a good essay is one that, among other things, displays a good sense of this dialectic of question and response by asking insightful, probing questions, and providing reasoned, well-argued responses. This means that you should not rest content with merely an unintegrated collection of assertions, but should instead work at establishing logical relations between your thoughts. You are assessed not on the basis of what you believe, but on how well you argue for the position you adopt in your essay, and on how interesting and insightful your discussion of the issues is. That is to say, you are assessed on how well you do philosophy, not on what philosophy you end up having. Nonetheless, you ought to make sure that your essay's discussion is relevant to the topic. (See Section 5.2 below on relevance.)

It is hoped that you enjoy the activity of essay writing. If you have chosen to study Arts, it is likely that you will have a particular interest in - even a passion for - ideas and the variety of forms and genres in which ideas are expressed and explored. The argumentative or discursive formal academic essay is one such form, and one which can be a pleasure to read and to write. Thus, the assessment that is set in philosophy courses is primarily an invitation to you to pursue what is already (or, hopefully, soon to be) your own interest in writing to explore ideas. However, your immediate goal in writing an academic philosophy essay ought not to be to write a personal testament, confession or polemic. Rather, you should primarily aim at articulating, clearly and relatively dispassionately, your philosophical thinking on the topic at hand. Nevertheless, the kind and degree of personal development one can gain from taking up the challenge to think and to write carefully, clearly and thoroughly is certainly something to be greatly valued.

This guide is intended to help you get started in the business of writing philosophy essays. As you practise your philosophical writing skills, you will develop your own technique, and learn what is appropriate in each particular case. So you may well come to "work around" many of these guidelines. Nonetheless, it is important that you pass through that which you seek to pass beyond.* In addition to your own writing, your reading of other philosophers will help you to develop your sense of what constitutes good philosophical writing. As you read, note the various styles and techniques that philosophical authors employ in their treatment of philosophical issues. Practice and studying good examples, then, are the most valuable ways to develop your essay writing skills.

This guide is, moreover, only one of many publications that introduce philosophy students to essay writing. Some others you may like to consult include:

• A. P. Martinich, Philosophical Writing, 2nd ed. (Oxford: Blackwell, 1997)
• J. Feinberg and R. Shafer-Landau, Doing Philosophy: A Guide to the Writing of Philosophy Papers, 2nd ed. (Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 2001)
• Z. Seech, Writing Philosophy Papers, 4th ed. (Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 2003)
• R. Solomon, "Writing Philosophy", Appendix to his The Big Questions: A Short Introduction to Philosophy, 6th ed. (Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 2001)
• S. Gorovitz et al., Philosophical Analysis: An Introduction to its Language and Techniques, 3rd ed. (New York: Random House, 1979)

Also, the websites of many philosophy departments in universities around Australia and the world contain downloadable essay writing guides or links to them.

*This phrase is adapted from Jacques Bouveresse, "Why I am so very unFrench", in Alan Montefiore, ed., Philosophy in France Today (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983), p. 12.

What do I do in a Philosophy essay?

Philosophy essay topics are not designed to provide an intellectual obstacle course that trips you up so as to delight a malicious marker. They are designed to invite you to "grapple with" with some particular philosophical problem or issue. That is to say, they are designed to offer you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of a particular philosophical problem or issue, and to exhibit your own philosophical skills of analysis, argumentation, etc. These twin goals are usually best achieved by ensuring that your essay performs two basic functions (your understanding and your skills apply to both):

an exposition of the problem or issue in question (often as it is posed in some particular text); and a critical discussion of the problem or text

These two functions can, but need not always, correspond to physically or structurally distinct sections of your essay. See Section 5.1.

The expository ("setting forth") aspect of your essay is where you should make clear what the issue is and why it is an issue. Where you are dealing with an issue as it is presented in some particular text, your aim should be to make clear what it is that the author in question meant in their text, what they see as the issue and why they see it as an issue. This does not involve merely quoting or paraphrasing a text. Of course, occasional quotation and paraphrase may be appropriate - sometimes necessary - but these ought not to constitute the sole or major content of your exposition. Where you do quote or paraphrase, make sure you attribute your sources in footnotes or endnotes. (See Section 7.)

Exposition is, then, primarily a matter of developing in your own words what you think the issue is or what you think the text means. In all expository work you should always try to give a fair and accurate account of a text or problem, even when the exposition becomes more interpretive rather than simply descriptive. You ought to be patient and sympathetic in your exposition, even if you intend later to criticise heavily the philosopher in question. Indeed, the better the exposition in this regard, usually the more effective the critique.

An important part of exposition is your analysis of the text or issue. Here you should try to "break down" the text, issue or problem into its constitutive elements by distinguishing its different parts. (E.g. "There are two basic kinds of freedom in question when we speak of freedom of the will. First, … . Second, …", or "There are three elements in Plato's conception of the soul, namely... He establishes these three elements by means of the following two arguments... ") This also involves showing the relationships between those elements, relationships which make them "parts of the whole".

As well as laying out these elements within a text or issue, you can also (when appropriate or relevant) show how a text or issue "connects up with" other texts, issues, or philosophical and/or historical developments, which can help to shed further light on the matter by giving it a broader context. (eg "Freedom of the will is importantly connected to the justification of punishment", or "Plato's tripartite theory of the soul bears interesting resemblances to Freud's analysis of the psyche", or "Kant's transcendental idealism can be seen as reconciling the preceding rationalist and empiricist accounts of knowledge".)

An exposition of a text need not always simply follow the author's own view of what it means. You should, of course, demonstrate that you understand how the author themself understands their work, but an exposition can sometimes go beyond this, giving another reading of the text. (eg "Heidegger might deny it, but his Being and Time can be read as developing a pragmatist account of human understanding.") A given text or issue may well be susceptible to a number of plausible or reasonable interpretations. An exposition should aim to be sensitive to such variety. When appropriate, you should defend your interpretations against rivals and objections. Your interpretation ought, though, to be aimed at elucidating the meaning or meanings of the text or issue and not serve merely as a "coat-hanger" for presenting your own favoured views on the matter in question, which should be left to your ...

Critical discussion

This is where your thought gets more of the centre stage. Here you should attempt to develop a response to the issues which your exposition has made clear, and/or, in the case of a discussion of some particular text, attempt to give a critical appraisal of the author's treatment of the issue. In developing a response to a philosophical problem, argumentation is, again, of central importance. Avoid making unsupported assertions; back up your claims with reasons, and connect up your ideas so that they progress logically toward your conclusions. Consider some of the various objections to and questions about your views that others might or have put forward, and try to respond to them in defence of your own line of thinking. Your goal here should be to discuss what you have expounded so as to come to some conclusion or judgement about it. ("Critical" is derived from the Ancient Greek for "to decide, to judge".) Critical discussion is thus not necessarily "destructive" or "negative"; it can be quite constructive and positive.

In the case of a critical appraisal of a particular author's text, you can negatively criticise the author's arguments by pointing out questionable assumptions, invalid reasoning, etc. If, on the other hand, you think that the text is good, then your critical discussion can be positive. This can be done by revealing its "hidden virtues" (that is, by showing that there is more to the author's arguments and views than what lies on the surface) and/or by defending an author against possible and/or actual criticisms. (eg "Norman Malcolm argues that Descartes is mistaken in assuming that dreams and waking episodes have the same content.* However, Malcolm fails to appreciate the subtlety of Descartes' argument in the First Meditation, which allows Descartes to claim . . .") Just to expound an author's arguments and then say "I disagree" or "That seems right" is not really enough - you need to "have something to say" about it. Of course, by all means go on, after finding fault with some philosopher, to answer in your own way the questions tackled or raised by the author. (eg "Simone de Beauvoir's analysis of women's oppression in The Second Sex suffers from serious weaknesses, as I have shown in Section 2 above. A better way to approach the issue, I shall now argue, is to . . .".)

Where you are not primarily concerned with evaluating or responding to a particular text, your critical discussion can be more focused on your own constructive response to the issue. (eg "Having used Dworkin's account to clarify the meanings of the concepts of 'the sanctity of life' and 'voluntariness', I shall now argue that voluntary euthanasia is morally permissible because its voluntariness respects what is of value in the notion of the sanctity of life" - where you now leave Dworkin behind as a source and move on to give your own account.)

* See Norman Malcolm, "Dreaming and Skepticism", in Willis Doney, ed., Descartes: A Collection of Critical Essays (London: Macmillan, 1967), p. 56.

Guide to researching and writing Philosophy essays

5th edition by Steven Tudor , for the Philosophy program, University of Melbourne, 2003.

This fifth edition of How to Write a Philosophy Essay: A Guide for Students (previous editions titled A Guide to Researching and Writing Philosophy Essays ) was prepared in consultation with members of the Philosophy program, the University of Melbourne. For advice and assistance on this and earlier editions, thanks are due to Graham Priest, Barry Taylor, Christopher Cordner, Doug Adeney, Josie Winther, Linda Burns, Marion Tapper, Kimon Lycos, Brendan Long, Jeremy Moss, Tony Coady, Will Barrett, Brian Scarlett, and Megan Laverty. Some use was also made of materials prepared by the Philosophy Departments of La Trobe University, the University of Queensland, and The Australian National University.

Disclaimer: University, Faculty and program rules

Please note: this booklet does not provide authoritative statements of the official policies or rules of the University of Melbourne, the Faculty of Arts, or the Philosophy program with regard to student essays and examinations or any other matters. Students should, therefore, not rely on this booklet for such information, for which they should consult the various appropriate notice boards, handbooks, websites, and/or members of staff.

Essay topics

What do philosophy essay topics look like? There are, very roughly, two basic kinds of philosophy essay topics: "text-focused" topics and "problem-focused" topics. Text-focused topics ask you to consider some particular philosopher's writing on some issue. (eg "Discuss critically David Hume's account of causation in Part III of Book I of his A Treatise of Human Nature " or "Was Wittgenstein right to say that 'the meaning of a word is its use in the language', in his Philosophical Investigations, Sec. 43?"). Problem-focused topics are more directly about a particular philosophical problem or issue, without reference to any particular philosopher's text. (eg "Is voluntary euthanasia morally permissible?" or "What is scientific method?")

There is another sort of topic, one which presents a statement and asks you to discuss it, where that statement is a "made up" or, at least, unattributed quote. (eg. "'Without belief in God, people cannot be moral'. Discuss.") I shall regard these as variations of the problem-focused type of topic. Where you are asked to discuss some such statement "with reference to" some specified text or philosopher, then that topic becomes more text-focused. (eg "'Without belief in God, people cannot be moral'. Discuss with reference to J.L. Mackie's Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong. ") Occasionally, a topic presents an unattributed statement, but the statement is, in fact, a quote from a particular philosopher you've been studying, or, at least, a good paraphrase of their thinking. (An example of the latter: "'All the ideas in our minds originate from either sense perception or our reflection upon sensory information.' Discuss.", in a course devoted to John Locke, whose views are summed up in the quoted statement, though those words are not actually his.) Should you take such topics as problem- or text-focused? Rather unhelpfully, I'll say only that it depends on the case. You might ask your lecturer or tutor about it. Whichever way you do take it, be clear in your essay which way you are taking it.

The difference between text-focused and problem-focused essay topics is, however, not very radical. This is because, on the one hand, any particular philosopher's text is about some philosophical problem or question, while, on the other hand, most philosophical problems (certainly virtually all those you will be given as essay topics at university) will have been written about by previous philosophers.

The basic way to approach text-focused topics, then, is to treat the nominated text as an attempt by one philosopher to deal with a particular philosophical problem or issue. The essay topic will, generally speaking, be inviting you to do philosophy with that philosopher, to engage with them in thinking about the issue, whether that engagement proves to be as an ally or an adversary. The chosen text will usually be one which has been (or deserves to be) influential or significant in the history of philosophy, but the task is not to pay homage to past masters. But, even if homage is your thing, the best way to do that here is to engage with the master philosophically.

With regard to problem-focused topics, you will often find your exploration of the problem aided by taking some text or texts which have dealt with it as reference points or prompts. This is not always strictly necessary, but many of you starting out in philosophy will find it helpful to do so - it can help you give focus to your response to the question. (Thus, you might, in an essay on the topic "Is voluntary euthanasia morally permissible?" take it upon yourself to use, for example, Ronald Dworkin's Life's Dominion and Peter Singer's Practical Ethics as reference points. Or, in an essay on the topic "What is scientific method?", you might set up your answer via a comparison of the two different accounts in Karl Popper's The Logic of Scientific Discovery and Paul Feyerabend's Against Method.*) How will you know which texts to adopt as reference points or prompts, if none is mentioned in the essay topic itself? One way is to consider what texts have already been mentioned with regard to the topic in your course reading guide and in lectures and tutorials. Another way is to do some of your own research. On this see Section 4 below.

* In this guide, in giving examples of how to go about answering an essay question, I am not necessarily giving any concrete or reliable advice for any particular topic. The examples are primarily to do with the form or style or strategy you might find helpful.

Researching your essay

To do research for your philosophy essay you need to do only two things: read and think. Actually, for problem-focused essays, thinking is the only truly necessary bit, but it's highly likely that you will find your thinking much assisted if you do some reading as well. Philosophical research at university is a little different to research in most other disciplines (especially the natural sciences), in that it is not really about "collecting data" to support or refute explanatory theories. Rather, the thinking that's involved in philosophical research (as part of one's preparation for philosophical writing) is more a matter of reflecting critically upon the problems in front of one. Researching the writings of other philosophers should, therefore, be primarily directed towards helping you with that reflection rather than aiming at gathering together and reporting on "the relevant findings" on a particular topic. In many other disciplines, a "literature review" is an important research skill, and sometimes philosophy academics do such reviews - but it is rare that philosophy students are asked to do one.

What, then, to read? It should be clear from your lectures and tutorials what some starting points for your reading might be. (All courses provide reading guides; many also have booklets of reading material.) Your tutor and lecturer are also available for consultation on what readings you might begin with for any particular topic in that subject. Independent research can also uncover useful sources, and evidence of this in your essay can be a pleasing sign of intellectual independence. Make sure, though, that what you come up with is relevant to the topic. (See Section 5.2 below on relevance.) Whichever way you proceed, your reading should be purposive and selective.

In the case of essay questions that refer to a particular text, you should familiarise yourself thoroughly with this text. Usually, such a text will be a primary text, i.e. one in which a philosopher writes directly about a philosophical issue. Texts on or about a primary text are called secondary texts. (Many philosophical works will combine these two tasks, and discuss other philosophical texts while also dealing directly with a philosophical issue.) Some secondary texts can be helpful to students. However, don't think you will only ever understand a primary text if you have a nice friendly secondary text to take you by the hand through the primary text. More often than not, you need to have a good grasp of the primary text in order to make sense of the secondary text.

How much to read? The amount of reading you do should be that which maximises the quality of your thinking - that is, you should not swamp yourself with vast slabs of text that you can't digest, but nor should you starve your mind of ideas to chew over. There is, of course, no simple rule for determining this optimal amount. Be wary, though, of falling into the vice of looking for excuses not to read some philosopher or text, as in "Oh, that's boring old religious stuff" or "She's one of those obscure literary feminist types", or "In X Department they laugh at you if you mention those authors in tutes". If someone wants a reason not to think, they'll soon come up with one.

Philosophical writings

Most philosophical writings come in either of two forms: books or articles. Articles appear either in books that are edited anthologies or in academic journals, such as Philosophical Quarterly or Australasian Journal of Philosophy. Some academic journals are also on the internet. Most articles in the journals are written by professional philosophers for professional philosophers; similarly with many books. But by no means let this put you off. Everyone begins philosophy at the deep end - it's really the only kind there is!

There are, however, many books written for student audiences. Some of these are general introductions to philosophy as a whole; others are introductions to particular areas or issues (eg biomedical ethics or philosophy of science). Among the general introductions are various philosophical dictionaries, encyclopedias and "companions". These reference works collect short articles on a wide range of topics and can be very useful starting points for newcomers to a topic. Among the most useful of the general reference works are:

• Edward Craig, ed., The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (10 vols.) (London: Routledge, 1998)
• Paul Edwards, ed., The Encyclopedia of Philosophy (8 vols.) (New York: Macmillan, 1967)
• Robert Audi, ed., The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, 2nd ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999)
• Ted Honderich, ed., The Oxford Companion to Philosophy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995)
• Simon Blackburn, The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996)
• Thomas Mautner, ed., The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy (London: Penguin, 1998)
• J.O. Urmson and Jonathan Ree, eds., The Concise Encyclopedia of Western Philosophy and Philosophers (London: Routledge, 1993)
• Edward N. Zalta, ed., The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (an internet-based reference work: plato.stanford.edu/ )

Note taking

Note taking, like your reading, should not be random, but ought to be guided by the topic in question and by your particular lines of response to the issues involved. Note taking for philosophy is very much an individual art, which you develop as you progress. By and large it is not of much use to copy out reams of text as part of your researches. Nor is it generally helpful to read a great number of pages without making any note of what they contain for future reference. But between these two extremes it is up to you to find the mean that best helps you in getting your thoughts together.

Libraries and electronic resources

The University's Baillieu Library (including the Institute of Education Resource Centre), which is open to all members of the University, contains more than 2,500 years' worth of philosophical writings. The best way to become acquainted with them is by using them, including using the catalogues (including the Baillieu's on-line catalogues and subject resources web-pages), following up a work's references (and references in the references), intelligent browsing of the shelves, etc.

In the main Baillieu Library, the philosophical books are located (mostly) between 100–199 in the Dewey decimal system, and philosophical journals are located in the basement. The Reference section on the ground floor also has some relevant works. The Education Resource Centre also has a good philosophy collection.

In addition to hard-copy philosophical writings, there is also a variety of electronic resources in philosophy, mostly internet-based. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy was already mentioned above. Links to other useful internet sites (such as the Australasian Association of Philosophy website) can be found through the Baillieu Library's web-page and the Philosophy Department's web-page.

A strong word of warning, however, for the would-be philosophical web-surfer: because anyone can put material on a website, all kinds of stuff, of varying levels of quality, is out there - and new-comers to philosophy are usually not well placed to sort their way through it. Unless you have a very good understanding of what you're looking for - and what you're not looking for - most of you will be much better off simply carefully reading and thinking about a central text for your course, eg Descartes' First Meditation, rather than wandering about the internet clicking on all the hits for "Descartes". Exercise your mind, not your index finger.

Writing your essay

Planning and structuring your essay.

It is very important that you plan your essay, so that you have an idea of what you are going to write before you start to write it. Of course, you will most likely alter things in later drafts, but you should still start off by having a plan. Planning your essay includes laying out a structure. It is very important that your essay has a clearly discernible structure, ie that it is composed of parts and that these parts are logically connected. This helps both you and your reader to be clear about how your discussion develops, stage by stage, as you work through the issues at hand.

Poor essay structure is one of the most common weaknesses in student philosophy essays. Taking the time to work on the structure of your essay is time well spent, especially since skill in structuring your thoughts for presentation to others should be among the more enduring things you learn at university. A common trap that students fall into is to start their essay by writing the first sentence, then writing another one that seems to follow that one, then another one that sort of fits after that one, then another that might or might not have some connection with the previous one, and so on until the requisite 1,500 words are used up. The result is usually a weak, rambling essay.

There are, of course, no hard and fast rules about how to structure a philosophy essay. Again, it is a skill you develop through practice, and much will depend on the particular topic at hand. Nonetheless, it might be helpful to begin by developing an essay structure around the basic distinction between your exposition and your critical discussion (as discussed above). In this it will be important that you make clear who is putting forward which point, that is, make it clear whether you are presenting your own thoughts or are expounding someone else's. (Again, confusion in this regard is a common problem in student essays.) It can often help your structuring if you provide headings for different sections (possibly numbered or lettered). Again, this helps both your reader to follow your discussion and you to develop your thoughts. At each stage, show clearly the logical relations between and the reasons for your points, so that your reader can see clearly why you say what you say and can see clearly the development in your discussion.

Another key to structuring your essay can be found in the old adage "Tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em. Tell 'em. Then tell 'em what you've told 'em", which provides you with a ready-made structure: Introduction, Main Body, and Conclusion.

In your Introduction, first introduce the issues the essay is concerned with. In doing so, try to state briefly just what the problem is and (if there is space) why it is a problem. This also applies, of course, to issues covered in text-focused essay topics. Next, tell the reader what it is that you are going to do about those problems in the Main Body. This is usually done by giving a brief sketch or overview of the main points you will present, a "pre-capitulation", so to speak, of your essay's structure. This is one way of showing your reader that you have a grasp (indeed, it helps you get a grasp) of your essay as a structured and integrated whole, and gives them some idea of what to expect by giving them an idea of how you have decided to answer the question. Of course, for reasons of space, your Introduction might not be very long, but something along these lines is likely to be useful.

In your Main Body, do what you've said you'll do. Here is where you should present your exposition(s) and your critical discussion(s). Thus, it is here that the main philosophical substance of your essay is to be found. Of course, what that substance is and how you will present it will depend on the particular topic before you. But, whatever the topic, make clear at each stage just what it is you are doing. You can be quite explicit about this. (eg "I shall now present Descartes' ontological argument for the existence of God, as it is presented in his Fifth Meditation. There will be three stages to this presentation.") Don't think that such explicitness must be a sign of an unsophisticated thinker.

A distinct Conclusion is perhaps not always necessary, if your Main Body has clearly "played out" your argument. So you don't always have to present a grand summation or definitive judgement at the end. Still, often for your own sake, try to state to yourself what it is your essay has achieved and see if it would be appropriate to say so explicitly. Don't feel that you must come up with earth-shattering conclusions. Of course, utter banality or triviality are not good goals, either. Also, your essay doesn't always have to conclude with a "solution" to a problem. Sometimes, simply clarifying an issue or problem is a worthy achievement and can merit first-class honours. A good conclusion to a philosophy essay, then, will usually combine a realistic assessment of the ambit and cogency of its claims with a plausible proposal that those claims have some philosophical substance.

What you write in your essay should always be relevant to the question posed. This is another common problem in student essays, so continually ask yourself "Am I addressing the question here?" First-class answers to a question can vary greatly, but you must make sure that your essay responds to the question asked, even if you go on to argue that the question as posed is itself problematic. (eg "To ask ‘What is scientific method?' presupposes that science follows one basic method. However, I shall argue that there are, in fact, several different scientific methods and that these are neither unified nor consistent.") Be wary, however, of twisting a topic too far out of shape in order to fit your favoured theme. (You would be ill-advised, for example, to proceed thus: "What is scientific method? This is a question asked by many great minds. But what is a mind? In this essay, I shall discuss the views of Thomas Aquinas on the nature of mind.")

This requirement of relevance is not intended as an authoritarian constraint on your intellectual freedom. It is part of the skill of paying sustained and focused attention to something put before you - which is one of the most important skills you can develop at university. If you do have other philosophical interests that you want to pursue (such as Aquinas on mind), then please do pursue them, in addition to writing your essay on the set topic. At no stage does the requirement of relevance prevent you from pursuing your other interests.

Citing Philosophical "Authorities"

There might be occasions when you want to quote other philosophers and writers apart from when you are quoting them because they are the subject of your essay. There are two basic reasons why you might want to do this. First, you might quote someone because their words constitute a good or exemplary expression or articulation of an idea you are dealing with, whether as its proponent, critic, or simply its chronicler. (eg "As Nietzsche succinctly put the point, 'There are no moral phenomena at all, only a moral interpretation of phenomena'.*") You may or may not want to endorse the idea whose good expression you have quoted, but simply want to use the philosopher as a spokesperson for or example of that view. But be clear about what you think the quote means and be careful about what you are doing with the quote. It won't do all the work for you.

The second reason you might want to quote a philosopher is because you think their words constitute an "authoritative statement" of a view. Here you want to use the fact that, eg Bertrand Russell maintained that there are two kinds of knowledge of things (namely, knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description) in support of your claim that there are two such kinds of knowledge of things. However, be very careful in doing this, for the nature of philosophical authority is not so simple here. That is to say, what really matters is not that Bertrand Russell the man held that view; what matters are his reasons for holding that view. So, when quoting philosophers for this second reason, be careful that you appreciate in what exactly the authority lies - which means that you should show that you appreciate why Russell maintained that thesis. Of course, you can't provide long arguments for every claim you make or want to make use of; every essay will have its enabling but unargued assumptions. But at least be clear about these. (eg "For the purposes of this essay, I shall adopt Russell's thesis* that ...").

* Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, trans. R.J. Hollingdale (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1973 [first German ed.1886]), Sec. 108.

* See Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1967 [first pub. 1912]), Ch. 5.

Philosophy is by its nature a relatively abstract and generalising business. (Note that abstractness and generality are not the same thing. Nor do vagueness and obscurity automatically attend them.) Sometimes a longish series of general ideas and abstract reasonings can become difficult for the reader (and often the writer) to follow. It can often help, therefore, to use some concrete or specific examples in your discussion. (Note that there can be different levels of concreteness and specificity in examples.)

Examples can be taken from history, current events, literature, and so on, or can be entirely your own invention. Exactly what examples you employ and just how and why you use them will, of course, depend on the case. Some uses might be: illustration of a position, problem or idea to help make it clearer; evidence for, perhaps even proof of, a proposition; a counter-example; a case-study to be returned to at various points during the essay; or a problem for a theory or viewpoint to be applied to. Again, be clear about what the example is and how and why you use it. Be careful not to get distracted by, or bogged down in, your examples. Brevity is usually best.

English expression

There's another old saying: "If you can't say what you mean, then you can't mean what you say" - and this very much applies to philosophical writing. Thus, in writing philosophically, you must write clearly and precisely. This means that good philosophical writing requires a good grasp of the language in which it is written, including its grammar and vocabulary. (See Section 9.3 for advice for people from non-English speaking backgrounds.) A high standard of writing skills is to be expected of Arts graduates. Indeed, this sort of skill will last longer than your memory of, for example, the three parts of the Platonic soul (though it is also hoped that some of the content of what you study will also stick). So use your time at university (in all your subjects) to develop these skills further.

Having a mastery of a good range of terms, being sensitive to the subtleties of their meaning, and being able to construct grammatically correct and properly punctuated sentences are essential to the clear articulation and development of your thoughts. Think of grammar, not as some old-fashioned set of rules of linguistic etiquette, but rather as the "internal logic" of a sentence, that is, as the relationships between the words within a sentence which enable them to combine to make sense.

Virtually all sentences in philosophical writing are declarative (ie. make statements), as opposed to interrogative, imperative or exclamatory types of sentences. There is some place, though, for interrogative sentences, ie. questions. (Note that, in contrast, this guide, which is not in the essay genre, contains many imperative sentences, ie. commands.) As you craft each (declarative) sentence in your essay, remember the basics of sentence construction. Make clear what the sentence is about (its subject) and what you are saying about it (the predicate). Make clear what the principal verb is in the predicate, since it is what usually does the main work in saying something about the subject. Where a sentence consists of more than one clause (as many do in philosophical writing), make clear what work each clause is doing. Attend closely, then, to each and every sentence you write so that its sense is clear and is the sense you intend it to have. Think carefully about what it is you want each particular sentence to do (in relation to both those sentences immediately surrounding it and the essay as a whole) and structure your sentence so that it does what you want it to do. To help you with your own sentence construction skills, when reading others' philosophical works (or indeed any writing) attend closely to the construction of each sentence so as to be alive to all the subtleties of the text.

Good punctuation is an essential part of sentence construction. Its role is to help to display the grammar of a sentence so that its meaning is clear. As an example of how punctuation can fundamentally change the grammar and, hence, meaning of a sentence, compare (i) "Philosophers, who argue for the identity of mind and brain, often fail to appreciate the radical consequences of that thesis." and (ii) "Philosophers who argue for the identity of mind and brain often fail to appreciate the radical consequences of that thesis." In the first sentence it is asserted (falsely, as it happens) that all philosophers argue for the identity of mind and brain; in the second, only some philosophers are said to argue for the identity of mind and brain. Only the punctuation differs in the two strings of identical words, and yet the meanings of the sentences are very different. Confusions over this sort of thing are common weaknesses in student essays, and leave readers asking themselves "What exactly is this student trying to say?"

It will be assumed that you can spell - which is not a matter of pressing the "spell-check" key on a word-processor. A good dictionary and a good thesaurus should always be within reach as you write your essay.

Also, try to shorten and simplify sentences where you can do so without sacrificing the subtlety and inherent complexity of the discussion. Where a sentence is becoming too long or complex, it is likely that too many ideas are being bundled up together too closely. Stop and separate your ideas out. If an idea is a good or important one, it will usually deserve its own sentence.

Your "intra-sentential logic" should work very closely with the "inter-sentential logic" of your essay, ie. with the logical relations between your sentences. (This "inter-sentential logic" is what "logic" is usually taken to refer to.) For example, to enable sentences P and Q to work together to yield sentence R as a conclusion, you need to make clear that there are elements within P and Q which connect up to yield R. Consider the following example: "Infanticide is the intentional killing of a human being. However, murder is regarded by all cultures as morally abhorrent. Therefore, people who commit infanticide should be punished." This doesn't work as an argument, because the writer has not constructed sentences which provide the connecting concepts in the various subjects and predicates, even though each sentence is grammatically correct (and possibly even true).

If you are concerned to write not only clearly and precisely, but also with some degree of grace and style (and I hope you are), it's still best to get the clarity and precision right first, in a plain, straightforward way, and then to polish things up afterwards to get the style and grace you want. But don't sacrifice clarity and precision for the sake of style and grace - be prepared to sacrifice that beautiful turn of phrase if its presence is going to send your discussion down an awkward path of reasoning. Aim to hit the nail on the head rather than make a loud bang. What you are likely to find, however, is that a philosophy essay which really is clear and precise will have a large measure of grace and style in its very clarity and precision.

Remember that obscurity is not a sign of profundity. (Some profound thought may well be difficult to follow, but that doesn't mean that one can achieve profundity merely through producing obscure, difficult-to-read writing.) Your marker is interested in what's actually in your essay, not what's possibly inside your head (or indeed what's possibly in some book you happen to have referred to in your essay). So avoid hinting at or alluding suggestively to ideas, especially where they are meant to do some important work in your essay. Instead, lay them out explicitly and directly. Of course, you won't have space to spell out every single idea, so work out which ideas do the most important work and make sure that you at least get those ideas clearly articulated. In expounding a text or problem that ultimately just is vague, muddled, or obscure, try to convey such vagueness, muddle or obscurity clearly, rather than simply reproducing it in your own writing. That is, be clear that and how a text or problem has such features, and then perhaps do your best to make matters clearer.

Despite these stern pronouncements, don't be afraid of sometimes saying things which happen to sound a little odd, if you have tried various formulations and think you have now expressed your ideas just as they should be expressed. Philosophy is often an exploratory business, and new ways of seeing and saying things can sometimes be a part of that exploration.

The need for clarity and precision in philosophical writing sometimes means that you need to stipulate your own meaning for a term. When you want to use a particular word in a particular way for the purposes of your essay - as a "technical term" - be clear about it. (eg "In this essay, I shall intend ‘egoism' to mean ...") Also, be consistent in your technical meanings, or else note when you are not. Be wary, though, of inventing too many neologisms or being too idiosyncratic in your stipulations.

With regard to what "authorial pronoun" to adopt in a philosophy essay, it's standard to write plainly in the first person singular ("I", "me", "my", etc.) rather than use the royal "we" (as in "we shall argue that ..."), or the convoluted quasi-legal indirect form ("It is submitted that ..."), or the scientific objectivity of a physics experimental report. Nonetheless, stick closer to "I argue", "I suggest", "my definition", etc., than to "I wish", "I hate", "my feeling", etc. A philosophy essay is still something more intellectual and formal than a personal reminiscence, polemic, or proclamation. In terms of audience, it's probably best to think of your reader as someone who is intelligent, open to discussion and knows a little about the topic you're writing on, but perhaps is not quite clear or decided about the issues, or needs convincing of the view you want to put forward, or is curious about what you think about the issues.

Try also to use non-discriminatory language, ie. language which does not express or imply inequality of worth between people on the basis of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and so on. As you write, you will be considering carefully your choice of words to express your thoughts. You will almost always find that it is possible to avoid discriminatory language by rephrasing your sentences.

Other things to avoid:

• waffle and padding
• vagueness and ambiguity
• abbreviations (this guide I'm writing isn't an eg. of what's req'd. in a phil. essay)
• colloquialisms (which can really get up your reader's nose)
• writing whose syntax merely reflects the patterns of informal speech
• unnecessary abstractness or indirectness
• unexplained jargon
• flattery and invective
• overly-rhetorical questions (do you really need me to tell you what they are?) and other flourishes

There are many guides to good writing available. Anyone who writes (whether in the humanities or the sciences, whether beginners or experienced professionals) will do well to have some on hand. Most good bookshops and libraries will have some. Among the most consulted works are (check for the latest editions):

• J. M. Williams and G. C. Colomb, Style: Toward Clarity and Grace (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995)
• W. Strunk and E. B. White, The Elements of Style, 4th ed. (New York: Longman, 2000)
• E. Gowers, The Complete Plain Words, 3rd ed. (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1987)
• R. W. Burchfield, ed., The New Fowler's Modern English Usage (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996)
• Pam Peters, The Cambridge Australian English Style Guide (Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 1995)
• Australian Government Publishing Service, Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers, 5th ed. (Canberra: AGPS, 1995)

Vocabulary of logical argument

Closely related to the above points about English expression is the importance of having a good grasp of what can rather generally be called "the vocabulary of logical argument". These sorts of terms are crucial in articulating clearly and cogently a logical line of argument. Such argumentation will, of course, be of central importance in whatever discipline you are studying, indeed in any sphere of life that requires effective thinking and communication. I have in mind terms such as these (grouped a little loosely):

all, any, every, most, some, none, a, an, the that, this, it, he, she, they if . . . , then. . . ; if and only if . . . , then . . . ; unless either . . . or . . .; neither . . . nor . . . not, is, are therefore, thus, hence, so, because, since, follows, entails, implies, infer, consequence, conditional upon moreover, furthermore which, that, whose and, but, however, despite, notwithstanding, nevertheless, even, though, still possibly, necessarily, can, must, may, might, ought, should true, false, probable, certain sound, unsound, valid, invalid, fallacious, supported, proved, contradicted, rebutted, refuted, negated logical, illogical, reasonable, unreasonable, rational, irrational assumption, premise, belief, claim, proposition argument, reason, reasoning, evidence, proof

Most of these are quite simple terms, but they are crucial in argumentative or discursive writing of all kinds. (Many are themselves the subject of study in logic, a branch of philosophy). The sloppy use of these sorts of terms is another common weakness in students' philosophy essays. Pay close and careful attention to how you employ them. Moreover, pay close and careful attention to how the authors you read use them. For further discussion of some of these terms and others, see:

• Basic Philosophical Vocabulary, prepared by the staff of the Philosophy Department and available from the programs Office
• Wesley C. Salmon, Logic, 2nd ed. (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1973)
• Antony Flew, Thinking About Thinking (London: Fontana, 1985)
• Graham Priest, Logic: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000)
• Joel Rudinow and Vincent E. Barry, Invitation to Critical Thinking, 4th ed. (Fort Worth, Texas: Harcourt Brace, 1999)

Revising your essay

It is virtually essential that you write a first draft of your essay and then work on that draft to work towards your finished essay. Indeed, several drafts may well be necessary in order to produce your best possible work. It is a rare philosopher indeed who can get things perfectly right on the first attempt, so be prepared to revise and re-develop what you write. Don't be too precious about what you have written, if it appears that it should be sacrificed in the revision process. There is usually a very marked difference between essays which are basically first draft rush-jobs done the night before they are due and those which have been revised and polished. Give yourself time to revise by starting writing early on. For most philosophy students, the greater part of the work in essay writing is in the writing, not in the preliminary researches and planning stages. So be wary of thinking "I've done all the research. I only need to write up my notes, which I can do the night before the essay's due". This is likely to lead to a weak, perhaps non-existent, essay (and very likely a sleepless night).

Stick to the word limit given for your essay. Why are word limits imposed? First, to give the markers a fair basis for comparing student essays. Second, to give you the opportunity to practise the discipline of working creatively under constraints. Skill in this discipline will stand you in very good stead in any sphere where circumstances impose limitations. Again, word limits are not constraints on your intellectual freedom. Outside your essay you are free to write without limit. But even there you'll probably find that your creativity is improved by working under a self-imposed discipline.

As a general rule, most student essays that fall well short of the word limit are weak or lazy attempts at the task, and most essays that go well over the limit are not much stronger or the result of much harder work - the extra length is often due to unstructured waffle or padding which the writer hasn't thought enough about so as to edit judiciously. If you structure your essay clearly, you'll find it easier to revise and edit, whether in order to contract or expand it. ("Hmm, let's see: section 2 is much longer than section 4, but is not as important, so I'll cut it down. And I should expand section 3, because that's a crucial step. And I can shift that third paragraph in the Introduction to the Conclusion.")

Plagiarism and originality

Plagiarism is essentially a form of academic dishonesty or cheating. At university level, such dishonesty is not tolerated and is dealt with severely, usually by awarding zero marks for a plagiarised essay or, in some cases, dismissing a student from the university.

When you submit your essay, you are implicitly stating that the essay is your own original and independent work, that you have not submitted the same work for assessment in another subject, and that where you have made use of other people's work, this is properly acknowledged. If you know that this is not in fact the case, you are being dishonest. (In a number of university departments, students are in fact required to sign declarations of academic honesty.)

Plagiarism is the knowing but unacknowledged use of work by someone else (including work by another student, and indeed oneself - see below) and which is being presented as one's own work. It can take a number of forms, including:

• copying : exactly reproducing another's words
• paraphrasing : expressing the meaning of another's words in different words
• summarising : reproducing the main points of another's argument
• cobbling : copying, paraphrasing or summarising the work of a number of different people and piecing them together to produce one body of text
• submitting one's own work when it has already been submitted for assessment in another subject
• collusion : presenting an essay as your own independent work when in fact it has been produced, in whole or part, in collusion with one or more other people

None of the practices of copying, paraphrasing, summarizing or cobbling is wrong in itself, but when one or more is done without proper acknowledgment it constitutes plagiarism. Therefore, all sources must be adequately and accurately acknowledged in footnotes or endnotes. (See Section 7.) Plagiarism from the internet in particular can be a temptation for a certain kind of student. However, be warned: there is a number of very good internet and software tools for identifying plagiarism.

With regard to collusion, it's undoubtedly often very helpful to discuss one's work with others, be it other students, family members, friends or teachers. Indeed, philosophy thrives on dialogue. However, don't kid yourself that you would simply be extending that process if you were to ask your interlocutor to join with you in the writing of your essay, whether by asking them to tell you what you should write or to write down some of their thoughts for you to reproduce in your essay. At the end of the day, you must be the one to decide what goes into your essay.

Originality

Students sometimes worry about whether they will be able to develop "original ideas", especially in light of the fact that nearly every philosophical idea one comes up with seems to have been thought of before by someone else. There is no denying that truly original work in philosophy is well rewarded, but your first aim should be to develop ideas that you think are good and not merely different. If, after arguing for what you believe is right, and arguing in way that you think is good, you then discover that someone else has had the same idea, don't throw your work away - you should feel vindicated to some extent that your thinking has been congruent with that of another (possibly great) philosopher. (If you have not yet handed your essay in when you make this discovery, make an appropriately placed note to that effect.) Don't be fooled, however, into thinking that plagiarism can be easily passed off as congruent thinking. Of course, if that other philosopher's ideas have helped you to develop your ideas, then this is not a matter of congruent ideas but rather of derivative ideas, and this must be adequately acknowledged. If, after developing your ideas, you discover that they are original, then that is an added bonus. But remember that it is more important to be a good philosopher than an original one.

Quotations, footnotes, endnotes and bibliography

Quotations in your essay should be kept to a minimum. The markers know the central texts pretty well already and so don't need to have pages thereof repeated in front of them. Of course, some quotation will usually be important and useful - sometimes essential - in both exposition and critical discussion.

When you quote the words of someone else directly, you must make the quotation clearly distinct from your own text, using quotation marks . (eg "Descartes said that 'it is prudent never to trust completely those who have deceived us even once.'* He makes this claim …" - where the words quoted from Descartes are in 'single quotation marks'. Note that it is relatively arbitrary whether one uses 'single' or "double" quotation marks for "first order" quotations, but whichever style you adopt, use it consistently in the one essay.) Alternatively, where the quoted passage is greater than three lines, put the quoted words in a separate indented paragraph , so that your essay would look like this:

In his First Meditation , Descartes argues as follows:

Whatever I have up till now accepted as most true I have acquired either from the senses or through the senses. But from time to time I have found that the senses deceive, and it is prudent never to trust completely those who have deceived us even once.* In this essay I shall argue that prudence does not in fact require us to distrust our senses and that Descartes's sceptical method is therefore seriously flawed.

In both cases, the quotations must be given proper referencingin a footnote or endnote.

When you are not quoting another person directly, but are still making use of their work - as in indirect quotations (eg "Descartes says that it is wise not to trust something that has deceived us before"*), paraphrases, summaries, and cobblings - you must still acknowledge your debts, using footnotes or endnotes.

* Rene Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy , trans. John Cottingham (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986 [first French ed., 1641]), p. 12.

Footnotes and endnotes

Footnotes appear at the foot of the same page on which the cited material appears, clearly separated from the main body of the text, each one clearly numbered. Endnotes appear at the end of the essay, again clearly separated from the main body of text, numbered and headed "Endnotes" or "Notes". Either method is acceptable, but you should choose one and stick with it throughout the one essay.

Below are some examples of how to put the relevant referencing information in footnotes and endnotes. This is not intended as an exercise in pedantry, but as a guide to how to provide the information needed for adequate referencing. The reason we provide this information is to enable our readers to find the sources we use in order to verify them and to allow them to pursue the material further if it interests them. In your own researches you will come to value good referencing in the texts you read as a helpful source of further references on a topic. Again, it is this sort of research skill that an Arts graduate will be expected to have mastered.

There are various conventions for writing up footnotes and endnotes. The Philosophy Department does not require that any particular convention be followed, only that you be consistent in your use of the convention that you do choose. For other conventions see the style guides mentioned above, or simply go to some texts published by reputable publishers and see what formats they employ.

Imagine, then, that the following are endnotes at the end of your essay. I will explain them below.

• James Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy , 2nd ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993), p. 25.
• Philippa Foot, "Moral Relativism", in Michael Krausz and Jack W. Meiland, eds., Relativism: Cognitive and Moral (Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1982), p. 155.
• Ibid., p. 160.
• Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, trans. H. J. Paton (New York: Harper and Row, 1964 [first German ed., 1785]), p. 63.
• Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, (London: Dent, 1973 [first pub. 1651]),p. 65.
• Rachels, The Elements, p. 51.
• Peter Winch, "The Universalizability of Moral Judgements", The Monist 49 (1965), p. 212.
• Antony Duff, "Legal Punishment", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2001 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2001/entries/legal-punishment/ at 15 June 2003, sec. 6.

Notes explained

• This is your first reference to a book called The Elements of Moral Philosophy. The title is given in full and in italics. If you are unable to use italics, then you should underline the title. The book's author is James Rachels. It's the 2nd edition of that book, which was published in New York, by the publishers McGraw-Hill, in 1993. The page you have referred to in your main text is page 25
• This is your first reference to Philippa Foot's article, "Moral Relativism", the title of which is put in "quotation marks". This article appeared in a book (title in italics) which is an anthology of different articles, and which was edited by Krausz and Meiland (names in full). The rest is in the same style as note (1)
• "Ibid." is short for "ibidem", which means "in the same place" in Latin. Use it on its own when you want to refer to exactly the same work and page number as in the immediately preceding note. So here the reference is again to Foot's article at page 155
• Ditto, except this time you refer to a different page in Foot's article, namely page 160
• This is reference to a book by Kant. Same book details as per note (1), except that, because this is a translation, you include the translator's name, and the date of the first edition in the original language
• This is a book reference again, so it's the same as note (1), except that, because it's an old book, you include the date of the original edition. (How old does a book have to be before it merits this treatment? There is no settled view. Note, though, that this convention is not usually followed for ancient authors)
• Here you are referring to Rachels' book again, but, because you are not in the very next note after a reference to it, you can't use "ibid.". Simply give the author's surname and a short title of the book, plus page reference. There is also a common alternative to this, whereby you give the surname, and write "op. cit." (which is short for "opere citato", which is Latin for "in the work already cited") and page reference (eg "Rachels, op. cit., p. 51.") Your reader then has to scan back over the notes to see what that "op." was exactly. The first option (author plus short title) is usually easier on the reader
• This is a reference to an article by Peter Winch in a journal called The Monist. The article's title is in "quotes", the journal title is in italics. The volume of the journal is 49, the year of publication is 1965, the page referred to is p. 212
• This is a reference to an article in the internet-based Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The article is titled "Legal Punishment" and was written by Antony Duff. The Encyclopedia was edited by Edward N. Zalta. Note that I have basically followed the mode of citation that the Encyclopedia itself recommends. (This is one sign of the site being a reputable one. Where a site makes such a recommendation, it's best to follow it.) I have, however, also added the date on which the article was retrieved from the site, and put the author's given name first, to be consistent with the other footnotes. I have also added the reference to section 6, in an effort to be more precise as to where in the article the material I used came from. Since web pages aren't numbered in the manner of hard copy works, it will help if you are able to refer to some other feature, such as paragraphs or sections, so as to pin-point your reference. In the absence of a site recommending a mode of citation to its own material, the basic information needed for adequate citation of internet-based material is (where identifiable) the author, the document title, the year the document was created, the website name, the uniform resource locator (URL) in <arrow-brackets>, date of retrieval, and a pin-point reference*

* I am here following the mode of citation of internet materials recommended in Melbourne University Law Review Association Inc, Australian Guide to Legal Citation , 2nd ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Law Review Association Inc, 2002), pp. 70-73. I have, though, added the desirability of a pin-point reference.

Bibliography

At the end of your essay (after your endnotes, if used) you should list in a bibliography all of the works referred to in your notes, as well as any other works you consulted in researching and writing your essay. The list should be in alphabetical order, going by authors' surnames. The format should be the same as for your notes, except that you drop the page references and should put surnames first. So the bibliography of our mock-essay above would look like this:

• Duff, Antony, "Legal Punishment", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2001 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2001/entries/legal-punishment/ at 15 June 2003
• Foot, Philippa, "Moral Relativism", in Michael Krausz and Jack Meiland, eds., Relativism: Cognitive and Moral (Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1982)
• Hobbes, Thomas, Leviathan (London: Dent, 1973 [first pub.1651])
• Kant, Immanuel, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals , trans. H.J. Paton (New York: Harper and Row, 1964 [first German ed. 1785])
• Rachels, James, The Elements of Moral Philosophy , 2nd ed., (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993)
• Winch, Peter, "The Universalizability of Moral Judgements", The Monist 49 (1965)

Presentation of essays and seeking advice

Generally, you should present an essay that is legible (hand-writing is OK, but typed or word-processed essays are preferable), in English, on one side of pieces of paper that are somewhere in the vicinity of A4 size and are fixed together . You should attach a completed Cover Sheet provided by the Philosophy program. Plastic document covers, spiral binding and other forms of presentational paraphernalia are not necessary (nor are they usually even desirable, as they mostly just get in the marker's way).

Late essays

Late essays are penalised . (For details of penalties consult the Philosophy program's notice board.)

Essays not handed in

Essays not handed in at all get zero marks. An essay that is handed in but gets a mark below 50 (and so is technically a "failed" essay) still gets some marks. (At least, it will so long as it's not so extremely late that the deducted marks wipe out all the marks it would have received if handed in on time.) All marks received for your essay (whether pass or fail) go toward your final score in the subject. Therefore, even if you think your essay is bound to fail (but please let your marker be the judge of that), or the due date has already passed, or both, it is still in your interests to hand your essay in .

Tutors and lecturers

Philosophy staff are not there just to be listened to by you; they are also there to listen to you. So don't hesitate to contact your tutor or lecturer to discuss questions or problems you have concerning your work.

If you have a legitimate excuse, you may be granted an extension on the due date for your essay by the lecturer in charge. Similarly, special consideration may also be granted when illness or other circumstances adversely affect your work. Applications for special consideration are made online via the Special Consideration web page.

Student counselling

Some personal or non-philosophical academic difficulties you might have you might want to discuss with someone other than your tutor or lecturer. Student Counselling and Psychological Services are there for you to discuss all sorts of problems you might encounter. Please consult your student diary for details on the counselling service.

English language assistance

As noted above, good philosophical writing requires a good grasp of the language in which it is written. If you are from a non-English speaking background and are having difficulties with your English expression in an academic context, you might like to make use of the services provided by Student Services Academic Skills . Many native English speakers, too, can benefit from short "refresher" courses and workshops run by the Centre. Please consult your student diary for details about this service.

A bit on Philosophy exams

Essays of the sort discussed so far in this guide are not the only form of assessment in the Philosophy program - examinations are also set. What is to be said about them?

First, not much that is different from what's been said above about philosophy essays. This is because what you write in a philosophy exam is none other than a philosophy essay . Have a look at past philosophy exam papers, in the Gibson and Baillieu libraries, to get a feel for them. The only basic difference between essays and exams is the matter of what constraints you're working under. Essays have word limits; exams have time limits . Again, stick to them. (Actually, you'll be made to stick to them by the exam invigilators.)

It's best, then, to think about how long to spend writing on an exam essay topic, rather than about how many words to write on it. Simple arithmetic will tell you how much time to spend on each exam question. (eg if you have a 2-hour exam and have to answer 3 questions, each worth one-third of the exam mark, then spend 40 minutes on each question.) Avoid the trap of "borrowing time" from a later question in order to perfect your answer to an earlier question, and then working faster on the later questions to catch up on lost time - this is likely to get you in a tangle. There are no word limits in philosophy exam essays, but don't think that the more you scrawl across the page, the more marks you'll get. Nonetheless, use the time you've got so as to maximise your display of your philosophical understanding and skills in answering the question.

Planning and structuring remain very important in exam essays. With regard to the niceties of footnotes, endnotes and bibliographies, etc., these are not necessary, so don't waste time on these. However, if you quote or refer to a specific passage from a text, do indicate clearly that it is a quotation or reference. (The principle of being clear as to who is saying what remains central.) If you have the reference handy, just put it briefly in the text of your exam essay. (eg "As Descartes says in Meditation I (p. 12), . . ." or "'[I]t is prudent never to trust completely those who have deceived us even once' (Descartes, Meditation I, p. 12)".) Generally speaking, you will show your familiarity with any relevant texts by how you handle them in your discussion. This is also true for your non-exam essays.

Your preparation for the exam should have been done well before entering the exam hall. Note that various subjects have restrictions on what texts and other items can be brought into the exam hall. (Consult the Philosophy program's notice board for details.) Many subjects will have "closed book" exams. Even if an exam is "open book", if you are properly prepared, you should not need to spend much time at all consulting texts or notes during the exam itself.

You won't have time for redrafting and revising your exam essay (which makes planning and structuring your answers before you start writing all the more important). If you do want to delete something, just cross it out clearly. Don't waste time with liquid paper or erasers. Write legibly . Don't wr. "point form" sav. time. Diff. kn. mean. use incomp. sent.

Finally, read the instructions at the beginning of the exam paper. They are important. (eg it's not a good strategy to answer two questions from Part A, when the Instructions tell you to answer two questions, one from Part A and one from Part B.) Note the (somewhat quaint) University practice of starting Reading Time some time before the stated time for the exam. Philosophy exams usually have 15 minutes of reading time. (Check for each of your exams.) So, if your exam timetable says the exam is at 2.15 pm, with reading time of 15 minutes, then the reading time starts at 2.00 pm and the writing time starts at 2.15pm - so get to the exam hall well before 2.00 pm. Reading time is very important. Use it to decide which questions you'll answer and to start planning your answers.

Checklist of questions

• Do I understand the essay question ? Do I know when the essay is due ?
• Do I know which texts to consult? Do I know where to find them?
• Have I made useful notes from my reading of the relevant texts?
• Have I made a plan of how I'll approach the question in my essay?
• Have I given myself enough time to draft and redraft my essay?
• Have I written a clearly structured essay? Is it clear what each stageis doing? Do I do what I say I'll do in my Introduction?
• Have I clearly distinguished exposition and critical discussion ? Have I given a fair and accurate account of the author(s) in question?
• Is my response to the topic relevant ? Do I answer the question? Have I kept my essay within the general bounds of the topic?
• Have I displayed a good grasp of the vocabulary of logical argument ? Are my arguments logically valid and sound? Are my claims supported by reasons ? Am I consistent within my essay?
• Is my English expression clear and precise ? Are my grammar, punctuation and spelling correct? Have I said what I meant to say? Is my writing legible?
• Have I fully acknowledged all my sources in footnotes or endnotes? Are my quotations accurate? Have I included a bibliography ?
• Do I need to revise any part of my essay again?
• Have I made a copy or photocopy of my essay for myself?
• Have I kept the receipt for my handed-in essay?

Philosophy Essay Topics: 90 Serene Ideas for You

Students often face a crucial decision: choosing the right philosophy essay topics. This choice is pivotal – it sets the tone for the entire essay and determines the depth of analysis and engagement with the subject matter. A great topic grabs the reader's attention and allows for meaningful exploration and critical thinking. So, the quest for the perfect philosophy essay topic isn't just a task. It's a gateway to unraveling life's complexities and participating in profound intellectual discussions.

Philosophy is filled with timeless questions and intriguing dilemmas that offer various perspectives on the human experience. From pondering the nature of reality and existence to questioning ethics, morality, and the purpose of life, the range of possible essay themes is vast. However, amidst this abundance, finding the right subject can feel overwhelming. It requires students to sift through many ideas and identify those that resonate most deeply with their interests and values.

Yet, the effort is worthwhile, as a well-chosen topic showcases understanding and fosters personal growth and intellectual discovery. If you’re lagging behind the schedule, ask our writers, ‘ write my philosophy paper for me ,’ and they’ll help with the workload promptly.

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How to Choose a Quality Philosophy Essay Topic?

Finding the best philosophy essay topics requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure that it's both interesting and suitable for academic exploration. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you select a great topic:

• Identify Your Interests

Consider the areas of philosophy that intrigue you the most. Are you interested in ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, political philosophy, or another branch? Choosing a subject that aligns with your interests will make writing more enjoyable and engaging.

• Research Current Trends

Stay updated with current debates and trends in the field of philosophy. Browse academic journals, online forums, and reputable websites to explore recent discussions and emerging topics. This will help you choose a relevant and contemporary theme for your essay.

• Narrow Down the Scope

Philosophy encompasses manifold topics, so narrowing your focus is essential. Instead of selecting a broad theme like "morality," consider specific aspects such as ethical dilemmas in artificial intelligence or the concept of justice in a particular political theory.

• Evaluate the Feasibility

Ensure that your chosen argument is suitable for the length and requirements of your essay assignment. Consider whether you can adequately address the topic within the given word count and timeframe. Avoid overly complex or obscure topics that might be challenging to research and analyze effectively.

• Consider Controversy and Debate

Controversial cases often generate more interesting discussions and opportunities for critical analysis. Look for areas of philosophy with ongoing debate or differing perspectives, as this can lead to a more compelling essay.

• Consult Resources

Use academic resources such as textbooks, scholarly articles, and academic databases to gather information and refine your case. Look for sources that provide different viewpoints and arguments to enrich your understanding of the subject matter.

• Brainstorm Ideas

Spend some time brainstorming potential issues based on your interests and research. Write down any ideas that come to mind, then evaluate each based on its relevance, depth, and potential for exploration. Should you tell us, ‘ write my paper for me cheap ,’ one of the experts will come to rescue within minutes

• Seek Feedback

Once you've narrowed down your list of potential arguments, seek feedback from your peers, professors, or mentors. They can provide valuable insights and help you choose the most suitable subject for your essay.

• Refine Your Topic

After receiving feedback, refine your chosen topic to ensure it's well-defined and specific. Clarify the research question or thesis statement that you intend to explore in your essay.

• Keep an Open Mind

Remain open to adjusting your subject as you conduct further research and develop your ideas. It's normal for your focus to evolve as you delve deeper into the subject matter.

Good Philosophy Essay Topics in 2024

If you’re stuck on a certain assignment, revise what is a persuasive essay or seek professional writing help at once.

• The nature of reality and perceptions.
• Ethics in everyday life.
• Pursuit of happiness: Philosophical perspectives.
• Free will versus determinism.
• Justice in society and its applications.
• Philosophy of love: Defining affection.
• Introspection in personal development.
• Existentialism and meaning in life.
• Role of reason in understanding.
• Ethics of technology and responsibility.
• Eastern versus Western philosophies.
• Paradox of choice in decision-making.
• Nature of consciousness.
• Art and expression.
• Problem of evil and suffering.
• Environmental ethics and responsibility.
• Concept of identity and authenticity.
• Philosophy of education.
• Ethics of punishment and justice.
• Search for truth and epistemology.
• Time and its nature.
• Concept of utopia and ideal societies.
• Language and meaning.
• Nature of faith and religious experience.
• Aesthetics of everyday life.
• Science and methodologies.
• Ethics of war and morality.
• Problem of knowledge and skepticism.
• Mind and cognition.
• Concepts of beauty and simplicity.

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Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics

Choosing a great idea isn’t enough – there’s still a paper to be written. If you need to brush up how to write philosophy essay , here’s a comprehensive guide.

• Arguing for or against the existence of God.
• Ethical implications of animal rights.
• Capital punishment: Ethical considerations.
• The morality of genetic engineering.
• Individual privacy versus national security.
• The ethics of lying: When is it justified?
• Euthanasia: A compassionate choice or morally wrong?
• The legitimacy of government surveillance.
• Is democracy the best form of government?
• The ethics of war: Defining justified conflict.
• Is affirmative action morally justifiable?
• Exploring the morality of abortion.
• The ethics of censorship in society.
• Should assisted suicide be legalized?
• Examining the morality of torture.
• The responsibility of corporations in society.
• The ethics of environmental conservation.
• Is it morally permissible to eat meat?
• The morality of recreational drug use.
• The ethics of physician-assisted suicide.
• Should there be limits to freedom of speech?
• The moral implications of wealth inequality.
• Is lying ever morally justifiable?
• Exploring the morality of revenge.
• Should prostitution be legalized?
• The ethics of organ donation and transplantation.
• Is it morally permissible to use animals in research?
• The morality of copyright and intellectual property.
• Should we prioritize global or national interests?
• Is violence ever morally justifiable for political change?

Easy Philosophy Essay Topics

Haven’t found any inspiring ideas yet? The due date is soon, so it’s best to opt for custom essay writing service to fit into the schedule just right.

• Existence and essence.
• The self and identity.
• Knowledge and skepticism.
• Ethics and moral dilemmas.
• Reality and perception.
• Free will and determinism.
• Beauty and aesthetics.
• Time and temporality.
• Mind and consciousness.
• Truth and relativism.
• Nature and ecology.
• Justice and fairness.
• Power and authority.
• Language and communication.
• Emotion and rationality.
• Progress and tradition.
• Technology and ethics.
• Death and mortality.
• Happiness and well-being.
• Education and enlightenment.
• Meaning and purpose.
• Change and continuity.
• Love and relationships.
• Art and creativity.
• Freedom and responsibility.
• Faith and doubt.
• Perception and reality.
• Society and individuality.
• Harmony and conflict.
• Reason and intuition.

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Guide on How to Choose Philosophy Paper Topics

f you get lucky, you'll be able to choose philosophy paper topics instead of having to handle the complex prompts suggested by your tutors. At the same time, you need to pick topics very carefully to write a quality philosophy paper.

As an excellent philosophy essay is argumentative or persuasive in most cases, we recommend following these principles of topic choice from our custom term paper writing service .

How to Choose the Right Idea for a Philosophy Essay

The basic rule to follow when choosing philosophy essay topics is evaluating your knowledge about a discussed problem and the number of available sources to work with. We also recommend that you read definition essay topics .

Here is several more hint to make the right choice:

• Study classroom discussions and notes

Take notes during your classes. It helps to pick philosophy essay topics related to what you study.

• Come up with a list of options

Put down the best philosophy essay topics that you have to analyze on a separate sheet of paper. Look through them and decide which of the issues you can cover in-depth.

• Create content to persuade

The philosophy papers should explain why the prospected dispute is critical. Include some philosophical judgments to support your idea.

• Select something you have an opinion about

Your argument will sound bad in case you select the question you have no interest in.

• Choose a problem you can see both sides of

Do not be narrow-minded: it is up to you to pick a topic that has two sides, just like a coin. An opposite problem could be a good idea to discuss in a philosophical work. View the subject from multiple perspectives to have a stronger case while refuting the opposition.

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Good Philosophy Paper Topics

The tips above alone could be insufficient to understand how a great title for a philosophy essay should sound. Our write my dissertation service has listed philosophy paper topics to help students with their choices.

5 Easy Philosophy Research Paper Topics

If you are a freshman having no idea which theme to choose, we suggest that you take a look at these easy to write philosophy research paper topics.

• Reasons why animals inhabit this planet
• Missions that every man should accomplish during his life
• Are males and females that different as media present them?
• Causes and effects of living in a dream
• Why do I prefer blond hair?

Interesting Philosophy Paper Topics for Essay Writing

If you have a deep interest in studying philosophy, you may offer more unique issues to observe. Think about covering one of the following philosophy essay topics:

• Select a preferred account of specific particulars (e.g., alternative version or the Aristotelian theory) and interpret the concept of particular details that it endorses.
• Explain what the slingshot argument is and discuss its key assumptions
• What is the relation of exemplification?
• Offer and evaluate one of the claims adduced by Loux in support of Metaphysical realism
• Discuss Austere Nominalism with the help of a single argument of your choice

5 Political Philosophy Paper Topics

Most often, students will have to cover political philosophy paper topics in a thoughtful piece of writing. These topics might work:

• The pros & cons of violent and non-violent resistance/revolution
• Socialism VS Capitalism on unplanned and planned economics
• Locke VS Thoreau on the question of property
• Cultural unity VS multicultural plurality
• Bentham VS Mill on Utilitarianism

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

There are some philosophy topics that are widespread and thus easy to write on:

• The Game Theory by J. von Neumann
• How does language influence people?
• Knowledge and imagination: what is prevalent?
• A prior and a posteriori
• The gens and how they influence people's behavior

Fun Philosophy Paper Topics

Sure thing, philosophy is a serious subject, but some topics may be funny to write essays on. Here are some examples.

• How do AI helpers like Siri or Alice affect our lives?
• Is there a human being without society? According to L.Tolstoi.
• The influence of comedies and dramas on human life perception.
• Does existentialism make sense in the 21 century?
• Extraterrestrial life: pieces of evidence and whether governments should reveal them to everyone.

Excellent Philosophy Essay Topics

• Is there a life after death? Discuss and prove with arguments.
• Family file traditions and principles.
• To Lie or not to lie? Discuss the cases when lying may be helpful.
• What is a perfect life?
• Is it possible to always be happy?

Interesting Philosophy Topics

• Ageism in 18 and 21 centuries.
• Feminism and religion.
• The use of genetic engineering research and how it affects our life
• How useful can preserving cultural heritage be?
• How important is achieving self-development?

After you choose the topic, do not forget to consult your tutor. Ask whether the issue is acceptable to discuss in your upcoming excellent philosophy essay. Now that we have an idea about how to select the right, we can move on to the next stage of crafting a good philosophy paper, which is writing a strong thesis statement.

If you want to pay someone to write your essay , contact us. Our professionals provide psychology, law, history essay help , or any other.

Discover How to Write a Thesis for a Philosophy Paper

If you wonder how to start a philosophy paper, think about a compelling thesis first. So, what is a thesis statement? A thesis is a central argument to defend. Compared to other types of essays, in a philosophy paper, a student often has to analyse the thesis offered by the distinguished author. Let's jump right to how to write a thesis statement for a philosophy paper.

When writing a thesis statement, you may decide which strategy to choose to support the claim of some philosopher:

• Interpret the thesis statement
• Propose an argument to support the thesis
• Come up with an objection
• Defend against a complaint to the thesis
• Assess points for and against the principal claim
• Think about the possible outcomes
• Define if some other argument commits one to the thesis
• Decide whether some different positions can be held consistently with the main argument

The last few options are more challenging than the first several, but such strategies make the paper much more interesting to read. It is more difficult to object one's opinion than defend it. A writer should find a defence versus the criticism of other sides, search for exact reasons to reject the theory of another person, include numerous counter-examples, and operate with credible data to object.

Anyway, here are some things to keep in mind that will help to support the thesis no matter which strategy you choose for your writing process:

• Add examples from both sources and real life;
• Compare & contrast the weak and strong points of the central argument;
• Make the thesis more plausible by offering alternative theories — show your objectivity;
• Imagine what would happen if the thesis - key arguments - were correct;
• Find out if some philosophers are committed to the argument by personal views;
• Proofread & edit the thesis several times to make sure it is specific, narrow, concise, compelling, reasonable, and has a hint concerning the rest of the paper.

Do you still wonder how to write a good thesis? How about the examples of thesis statements that could help you? Look at them to have an idea:

“I have to argue that Singer's thesis should be revised in light of Steve's criticism, but not entirely. I want to offer an improved version of Singer's central argument… And I should admit that this updated version avoids Steve's rejections. My final mission is to protect the updated thesis statement against other possible objections.”

“I should argue that if the fetus is an individual who possesses a right to live, abortion is moral even though it might not be viewed as an ethical activity. The fetus has no right to use the female's organism without her tacit consent. If the woman gets pregnant after a violent sexual act, she has all the moral rights to get rid of the fetus with the help of abortion.”

“I disagree with most of the positions that do not support the death penalty in this state. The one who took away the life of another one does not deserve to live. Murderers and papers should not be set free even after ages spent in jail as nothing can change a human being. By letting the serious criminals out, we put the lives of our children under threat!”

A Few Words About Evidence

Having proper evidence to support your claim is the critical success factor when it comes to writing a philosophy paper . Philosophers always find something to debate even when they leave empirical questions aside. On the one hand, what type of empirical evidence would be required to solve the problem might itself appear as a non-empirical issue that philosophers study. On the other hand, philosophers spend plenty of time discussing how various arguments are logically interconnected. An essential tool to use when rationalizing your statement is a reductio ad absurdum .

What Is Reductio ad Absurdum?

A reductio ad absurdum is an argument that aims to show how several views cannot be held consistently with each other. It may also point that even though a few ideas are consistent with each other, together, they entail an implausible final claim. Reductio allows having exact reasons to disagree with at least one of the offered premises.

Example of a Question-Begging

Another type of argument for your philosophical writing is a question-begging one . Here is how it looks like:

Keep in mind that ambitious terms like “religious experiences,” in our case, are a common issue, and can mask other pitfalls.

Another Way to Classify Arguments

It is possible to categorize arguments for the philosophy paper in a different way. The more popular division is deductive and non-deductive arguments.

A deductive argument is one that insists on the truth of the conclusion in case the premises are all true. An example could be, “They released 10,000 tickets for the Sweden Rock Festival. There will be no extra tickets, and the time is limited for all users to purchase them online. Thus, my chance of getting one ticket is 1 in 10,000.”

A non-deductive argument is one that states that there is just a high degree of probability for the conclusion. For instance, “All cats that I have ever met in my life will love playing with humans. Buffy is a cat. Therefore, Buffy will probably like playing with me.”

Checklist to Start a Philosophy Paper

• Study discussions and notes that you have made in a classroom
• Create a list of philosophy essay topics
• Explain why disputes are critical
• Select a topic you have an opinion about, and you can see both sides of its problem
• Choose a central argument to defend and write a thesis statement
• Find proper evidence to support your claim

Our readers find the Great Gatsby summary very interesting, we recommend you read this article from our authors.

Get Prompt Writing Help

If you would like qualified assistance with your philosophy paper, then contact to our team.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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190 Top-Notch Philosophy Essay Topics For All

Philosophy is a vast academic field that tackles every aspect of human life. Contrary to how most college and university students believe, philosophy essays are not walking in the park. Like writing essays in technical fields, philosophy papers demand a little critical analysis alongside extensive reading and massive research. There is a broad spectrum of philosophy topics you can choose to handle.

Nonetheless, it is hard to come by a case that compliments your interest besides being easy to write about in college. We have compiled exceptional philosophy essay topics that will quickly get you to the top of your class. Check them out below.

Interesting Philosophy Topics

• Examine the freedom teenagers should have
• Explain why success is so vital to people’s lives
• Evaluate whether people can free themselves from all material thoughts
• Discuss whether coma patients should be on life support
• Examine the importance of preserving cultural heritage
• What is the link between genetics and human personalities?
• Evaluate whether there will be an end to technological progress
• Examine whether democracy is an effective way of government
• Explain if it is possible to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich in society
• Elaborate how the development of AI will affect the world
• What is the association between beauty and morality in today’s world
• Determine if thoughts can exist without language
• Investigate if it is possible to find all questions about the universe
• Explain the role of religion in the modern world

Top Topics In Philosophy

• Outline the constituents of a good life
• Elaborate the likely ethical questions regarding postmortem autopsies
• Point out the difference between unethical and ethical marketing
• Discuss the role of ethics in higher education
• Examine conscience and its key features
• What are the issues and principles of ethics in psychotherapy?
• Discuss the difference between hedonism and utilitarianism
• What are the possible moral barriers if parent-child relationships
• Explain the definition and problems related to informed consent
• Examine whether humans and animals should have the same rights
• Discuss the significant moral advantages and disadvantages of human enhancements

Great Philosophy Essay Topics

• Elaborate the link between moral agency and neutrality in ethics of technology
• Explain the link between ethics and aesthetics in axiology
• Outline the main issues associated with manifest destiny
• What are the central moral issues related to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
• Investigate the concept of responsibility and freedom as it relates to metaethics
• Explain the distinctive critical attributes of morality
• Take a look at the specifics of feminist ethics
• Discuss the ethics of religious beliefs as it relates to Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity
• Elaborate the critical challenges related to deontological ethics
• Define virtue ethics and highlight its key concepts
• Define utilitarian ethics and explain its fundamental principles

Top-Grade Philosophy Thesis Topics

• Explain the role of classical pragmatism in the development of feminist theories
• Highlight the main features of empiricism
• Point out the influence of Russian cosmism on space exploration
• Explain the prominent contributions of Edmund Husserl’s to the field of phenomenology
• Define the concept of the Other and elaborate how it is in film, psychology, and philosophy
• Discuss the influence of globalization and war on the late 20 th -century anarchism
• Examine critical figures associated with existentialism in France after WWII
• What are the basic concepts of existentialism
• Explain how the theory of quantum mechanics and relativity affected the 20 th century
• Examine the role of Plato and Aristotle in classical German philosophy
• Elaborate the Schleiermacher’s influence on knowledge and psychology
• Highlight Karl Marx’s concepts of capital, class, and labor
• Investigate the contributions of Johanna Charlotte Unzer towards feminism

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

• Explain the critical attributes of Pietism
• Point out Christian Thomasius’ thoughts on prejudice and reason
• Discuss moral philosophy and ethics in Nietzsche, Kant, and others
• Discuss the political, intellectual, and philosophical conditions that led to the reformation
• Explain how Martin Luther’s theology impacted Europe
• Elaborate the problem of theodicy in medieval philosophy
• Discuss what characterized Albert of Saxony’s metaphysics and logic
• Explain the concepts of divine providence and sin
• Highlight the problem of free will from a theological point of view
• Compare the theological approached of Saint Augustine and Thomas of Aquinas
• Explain what characterized the problem of universals in medieval philosophy
• Investigate medieval theology as a philosophy of religion
• What is the link between faith and reason in medieval philosophies

A-Grade Philosophical Questions

• Evaluate how to integrate secular learning and sacred doctrine in medieval philosophy
• Discuss metempsychosis as the concept of reincarnation
• Explain different forms of the good according to Plato’s Republic
• Define the idea of “becoming” in atomism
• Explain the concept of moral intention as detailed in philosophy
• Examine Homer’s influence on Greek philosophy
• Discuss the constantly changing nature of reality in ancient philosophy
• Define the concept of “logos” in different philosophies
• Discuss the ideas of principal substances in Greek philosophy
• What is the relationship between the doctrine of Pythagoreans and Mathematics

Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics

• Elaborate the main attributes of Skepticism
• What influence do movies and video games have on our morals
• Explain the impact of social media on our moral values
• Explain the purpose behind evil and good
• Discuss whether it is possible to live without regulations and laws in the world
• Define death and explain its purpose
• Investigate whether knowledge is a result f experience and learning
• Explain whether or not morality should be subjective
• Discuss the future of humans and humankind
• What are critical moral issues around genetically modified products
• What are the reasons and solutions to mass panic and hysteria
• Explain why governments should conceal the evidence of extraterrestrial life

College Topic For Philosophy Paper

• Examine why modern celebrities should be positive models for modern teenagers
• Define the American dream and explain if it exists
• Highlight postmodernism ideas in philosophy
• Discuss the idea that there is life after death
• Investigate the concept of happiness through the eye of modern youths
• Explain the basic principles and ideas that a family file should have
• Discuss the ethics behind the application of Bitcoin and other digital currencies

Excellent Topics For Philosophy Paper

• Evaluate why violent and offensive content should not be on the internet
• Define patriotism and explain why it should be a virtue
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of child-free families
• Assess whether it is ethical to have zoos and circuses
• Is death the beginning of something new or the final point of human life
• Discuss ethical issues surrounding organ transplant
• Explain why it is essential to lie sometimes
• Evaluate whether governments should legalize abortion
• What is the connection between culture and morals
• Define communism and explain its pros and cons

General Philosophy Research Paper Topics

• What is the essence of religious sects, and should they be legalized?
• What impact does the belief in God have on humans
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of committing suicide
• Define the concept of Supernatural and highlight any proof of its existence
• What are the best methods to solve issues between children and their parents
• How are war and peace interrelated to each other?
• What impact has the church had on US politics in the past ten years?
• Define free will and determinism and point out which one you support
• Define a perfect life and explain what keeps people from living it
• Discuss why folks need education and how its significance has changed over the years

World-Class Philosophy Topics For Essays

• Elaborate five key character traits that determine who you are and state whether you would change any of them
• Explain why some individuals may live life without feeling alive
• Elaborate the role society plays in the formation of one’s personality
• Discuss ethical questions that revolve around Covid-19 and examine the response to the pandemic
• Outline the reasons for banning hate speech on social media and the internet
• Define ageism and explain how we can tackle it
• Explain why white Americans should be held responsible for the disadvantaged position of black Americans
• Is feminism opposed to religion?
• Examine the goals that feminism as a movement has achieved so far
• Investigate if gender parity is attainable

Brilliant Philosophical Topics For Essays

• What should come first; economic benefits or morality
• What are the ethical issues around using embryos in genetic engineering research
• Is it ethical to invest in pet operations when people in developing countries still lack primary health care?
• Explain why it is our moral duty to take care of the environment
• Discuss whether environmental awareness should be a virtue
• Investigate the moral responsibility that developed countries hold in tackling hunger issues in the world
• Determine if charity should be a moral obligation
• What ethical questions surround the use of drugs enhancing cognition?
• Explain why cloning is ethically admissible
• Elaborate ethical reasons behind mass surveillance

Philosophy Term Paper Topics

• Discuss if a convict should have the freedom to accept the death penalty or serve a life sentence
• Explain why abortion is wrong on moral grounds
• Evaluate moral rules that enslave people
• Assess if people can violate moral rules to achieve a common good
• Examine whether science is compatible or incompatible with religion
• Discuss the impact of colonialism on the behavior of modern-day colonists
• Explain the key differences between Freudism and Marxism
• Highlight how modernism reflects societal changes
• What are the effect of quantum mechanics and relativity on idealism

Fun Philosophy Paper Topics

• Examine whether getting information out of the outer world is real
• Investigate the synthetic propositions of the Kantian modes of thinking
• Define probability and explain why it might be a construct of the mind
• Assess if magic draws inspiration from science
• Discuss the effects of divination and alchemy on modern society
• Outline how the biological and spiritual aspects of life coexist

Good Philosophy Paper Topics

• Explain the potential limitations of the concept of Utopia
• Analyze the impacts of influences and legacy
• Discuss the free will in man from a theological point of view
• Evaluate how doctrines shape a group’s belief system
• Define atomism and outline its principal characteristics
• What is the impact of Augustine’s ethics in the context of Christianity?
• Compare and contrast between Epicureanism and Stoicism
• Explain if Platonic realism affects modern realism

Philosophy Topics To Write A Paper On

• Discuss how the feminine gender was in ancient Greece
• Investigate how natural philosophy impacts science
• Detail the contrast between mythology and philosophy in explaining natural phenomena
• Show whether there exists a unity of opposites within the universal flux?
• Elaborate if philosophy is the ultimate answer to all questions in life
• Explain what attracts short ladies to tall boyfriends and vice versa
• Discuss what matters between the lives of citizens and the economy in the event of a pandemic
• Explain why anxiety may be an indication that you are not well prepared
• A case study of the psychology behind cheap products and their quality
• Examine if someone can mentally offend another without necessarily inflicting any physical damage

Amazing Philosophical Essay Topics

• What is the truth of the statement that critics are mean people who only want their ideas to prevail?
• Is it possible to provide help to a stranger without doubting their intentions?
• Explain whether achieving self-development has anything to do with self-esteem
• Discuss the attributes that define beautiful and excellent among women and men
• Explain whether endorsement has anything to do with acceptance of a particular cause
• A case study of how community-guided practices impact the lives of its inhabitants
• Elaborate the role of interests and abilities in shaping a person’s decisions in life
• Investigate why conceptual rigor and argumentative rigor are necessary when handling life issues

World-Class Philosophy Essay Questions

• Explain the link between the natural world and the spirit
• Discuss who should determine the ethics and morals of a community
• Explain whether it is worth preserving memories of past events even though we cannot relive them
• Investigate why our superstitions and cultural myths about life and death are important
• What are the philosophical effects of staying up too late at night?
• Explain the essence of matter, space, and time in the study of philosophy
• Discuss whether everyone has a choice or obligation towards a particular responsibility
• Which is more important, to be loved by someone or to love someone?

Additional Philosophy Paper Ideas

• Explain if there are any situations in particular where it is better to lie than tell the truth
• Discuss whether capital punishment is morally justified in today’s world
• Explain the effect of the philosophical wave of the 20 th century
• What is the most crucial attribute to gain human knowledge?
• Investigate whether our morals are influenced by or connected to culture
• Would you please explain the difference between economic justice and legal justice and show which of them is most important
• Examine if Machiavellian ideals are still applicable in today’s government
• Elaborate whether teenagers should have the responsibility to make their own choices
• Examine if humans have the same perception about what is wrong and what is right
• A case study of the main character traits that an ideal leader possesses
• Define the term mentally conscious and how it applies to human life
• Examine how to get ready for life after death

Now that we have simplified your work, completing a comprehensive philosophy essay should be a breeze. Nevertheless, you may still have a hard time if you do not know how to write a philosophy essay, start a philosophy essay, or start a philosophy paper. You can get a quality online essay writing service that offers dependable writing help on the bright side.

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Writing a Philosophy Essay

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Is there a God? Are there objective, universal moral norms or rules? What is meant by ‘reality’? Do we have free will? In studying philosophy, students aim to do the following:

• understand such philosophical questions and the concepts, arguments, and theories that philosophers use to address them
• think critically about such arguments and theories
• develop their own answers to philosophical questions

Writing philosophy essays is a key part of studying philosophy. Make sure first to understand the assignment, looking out for the questions asked and paying attention to prompts such as “outline” or “evaluate” or “compare”. Most philosophy assignments will ask you to demonstrate your understanding of the subject through exposition of arguments and theories, and many will also test your ability to assess these arguments and theories by writing a critical evaluation of them. Write your paper so that the reader understands how your exposition and evaluation answer the questions and address all parts of the assignment.

Read the Texts Carefully, Asking Questions

Before you write a paper, though, you need to understand the course texts and recommended readings. Philosophical works need to be read slowly and with focused attention. As you read, ask yourself the following:

• What philosophical question(s) is the author addressing?
• What exactly is meant by key ideas or concepts in the text (e.g., Plato’s “Forms”, Aristotle’s “substance” and “accident”, Kant’s “categorical imperative,” Sartre’s “being-for-itself”)? Each discipline has its own technical language, which students must learn.
• What arguments does the author make (e.g., Aquinas’s five arguments for the existence of God)?
• What theories does the author propose (e.g., a dualist mind-body theory or—one of its competitors—a physicalist theory of mind)?

Organize Your Ideas into a Logical Structure

Take notes as you read. Then put your ideas for the essay into a logical order. Because philosophy papers proceed by logical argument, creating a point-form outline that captures the structure of your argument is generally a good strategy. An outline will allow you to spot problems in your argument more easily.

Augment Your Thesis with a Road Map that Reveals the Structure of Your Argument

Most assignments will require you to present a clear thesis statement that sums up the position for which you are arguing. In the introduction you should also provide a ‘road map’—a few sentences that announce in sequence what you intend to accomplish in each of the key stages of your paper. Road maps often rely on first person (“First, I will analyze . . . “), but if your professor prefers that you don’t use the first person, you can instead describe what your essay will accomplish (“First, the essay will analyze . . . “).

Show Your Understanding through Clear and Accurate Exposition

Try to make your expository writing as clear and accurate as possible, and try to show the logical connections between the different parts of a philosophical system. Avoid vague or overly brief exposition, serious omissions, or misunderstandings.

In some first year courses, an early assignment may ask you to write a short paper expounding but not evaluating a concept or theory. For example: “Explain what Plato means by Forms.” Subsequent assignments in the course usually involve evaluation as well as exposition (e.g., “Outline and evaluate Plato’s theory of Forms”). In some courses, assignments may call for detailed interpretation of a text rather than an assessment of it. “Was Hume an idealist?”, “Was Wittgenstein a behaviourist?” and “Was Marx a nihilist about morality?” are examples. Such questions are posed when there is disagreement among scholars about how to interpret a philosopher. In such essays, you will need to examine texts very closely, find passages which support a yes or no answer, choose where you stand in the debate, and defend your answer.

Critically Evaluate a Philosophical Theory

When studying a philosophical theory, you will need to think about both its strengths and weaknesses. For example, is a particular theory of art (such as the view that art is the expression of emotion) comprehensive: does it apply to all the arts and all types of art, or only to some? Is it logically consistent or does it contain contradictions? Are there counterexamples to it?

As you think about your topic, read the course materials, and take notes, you should work out and assemble the following:

• the strengths of a philosopher’s theory
• the arguments the philosopher gives in support of the theory and those the philosopher did not provide but which might still support it
• possible criticisms of those arguments
• how the philosopher has replied or could reply to these criticisms

Finally, ask yourself how you would evaluate those replies: do they work or not? Be selective, especially in a shorter paper. In a 1,000-word essay, for instance, discuss one or two arguments in favour and one or two against. In a 2,000- or 2,500-word paper, you can include more arguments and possible replies. Finally, plan carefully: leave enough space for your assessment.

A different type of critical evaluation assignment may ask for a comparative appraisal of two or more theories. For example, “Which account of human decision-making is stronger: X’s free will theory or Y’s determinist theory?” In such essays, your thesis could be that one account is better than the other or, perhaps, that neither account is clearly superior. You might argue that each has different strengths and weaknesses.

Develop Your Own Answers to Philosophical Questions

In the type of critical assessments above, you are already, to some extent, articulating your own philosophical positions. As you read texts in a course on, say, philosophy of mind or philosophy of art, you should be asking, based on what you have read so far, which theory is the best? Don’t be content to just understand theories and know their strengths and weaknesses. Push yourself to think out your own account of mind or art.

Some upper-year essay assignments may throw a fundamental philosophical question at you: “What is art?”, “Do we have free will?”, “What is morality?”, or “What is reality?”. Here, you will present your own answer, giving reasons, answering objections, and critically evaluating alternative approaches. Your answer/thesis might be an existing theory or a synthesis of two or more theories, or (more rarely) a completely new theory. Now you are not only expounding theories or critically evaluating them; you are also developing your own philosophy!

Philosophy Essay Examples and Topics

Hart devlin debate: summary & analysis.

• Subjects: Law Philosophy
• Words: 3257

What Change Would You Like to See in the World?

• Subjects: Life Philosophy
• Words: 1708

Machiavelli’s Political Ideas

• Subjects: Political Philosophies

Plato and Aristotle on Literature Compare & Contrast Essay

• Subjects: Philosophical Concept

Examples of Utilitarianism in Business: Utilitarianism Case Study

• Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
• Words: 2842

The Concept of Plato’s Ideal State Essay

Reflection paper about values, similarities and difference between hegel and marx.

• Subjects: Philosophers
• Words: 1109

Idealism in Hegel’s Definition

• Words: 1120

James Rachels’ The Challenge of Cultural Relativism Essay

• Subjects: Philosophical Theories

Philosophy and Relationship between Freedom and Responsibility Essay

• Subjects: Freedom Philosophy
• Words: 1658

Difference Between Structuralism and Post-structuralism

“existence precedes essence” a term by sartre, the best things in life are free, the concept of death in literature and human life.

• Words: 1731

Research Philosophy: Importance and Types

• Subjects: Philosophical Works

Empathy: What Is It and How Does It Work

• Words: 1496

David Hume: Philosophy about Self Essay

Aristotle as the first political scientist.

• Words: 2217

Power and Knowledge Relationship: Michel Foucault View

• Subjects: Philosophy of Science
• Words: 1365

Plato and Aristotle’s Views of Virtue in Respect to Education

Relationship between ethics and religion essay.

• Words: 1116

Compare and Contrast: Plato and Aristotle Essay

• Words: 1118

Life After Death

• Words: 1354

Descartes Wax Argument and Its Purpose – Explicatory Essay

• Words: 1099

The Fundamental Traits of a Philosopher

• Words: 1456

Philosophy: Plato’s Republic Versus Aristotle’s Politics

• Words: 1390

Paradigm Shift From Modernism to Postmodernism Ways of Thinking

• Words: 1924

Individual Perspective on Responsibility

The difference between right and wrong.

• Words: 1125

John Rawls’ Theory of Justice

• Words: 1188

Aristotle vs. Socrates: The Main Difference in the Concept of Virtue

• Words: 1175

Money, Happiness and Relationship Between Them

• Words: 1128

Socrates Influence on Plato’s Philosophy

• Words: 1067

John Rawls’ Philosophy of Liberalism: Strengths and Weaknesses

Utilitarianism theory essay.

• Words: 1081

​Do the “Ends Justify the Means?”

Reflection on confucianism, the concept of being by heidegger.

• Words: 2187

The Value of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

Transcendentalism: ralph emerson vs henry thoreau.

• Words: 1101

The contribution of Immanuel Kant to the modern philosophy

The strength of a nation derives from the strength of the home, importance of self-identity.

• Words: 1079

The Theory of Knowledge by Immanuel Kant

Aristotle’s views on women.

• Words: 2041

Human Will & Freedom and Moral Responsibility

The purpose of man, utilitarianism: john stuart mill and jeremy bentham, transcendentalism in american literature.

• Words: 1384

Avocado vs. Artichoke: Can Human Nature Change

Plato on knowledge and opinion, plato vs. aristotle: political philosophy compare and contrast essay.

• Words: 4151

Divided Line and the Allegory of the Cave

Ethical subjectivism and emotivism in society, thomas aquinas’ and emanuel kant’s moral philosophy.

• Words: 1189

How We See Ourselves v. How Others See Us

Changes in life: positive and negative effects, plato on death: comparison with aristotle afterlife – essay on life after death philosophy, confucian gentleman: characteristics of junzi (a noble man), “the question concerning technology” by martin heidegger.

• Words: 1974

Process Philosophy and Its Impact on America

What is philosophy: meaning and importance, the perception of the self according to socrates, nozick’s entitlement theory.

• Words: 1969

Epistemologies of Plato and Aristotle

• Words: 1226

Kant`s View on Homosexuality

• Words: 1107

“Looking beneath the surface” – Meaning in Philosophy

Pragmatic, coherence and correspondent truth theories.

• Words: 1410

Freedom and Determinism

• Words: 1716

Inauthenticity and Authenticity Differences

Perspectives on free will: a comparison of hobbes and berkeley, the standard of taste by david hume, thomas hobbes’ and classical realism relationship, subjectivism and cultural relativism: objections and differences, socrates’ life and contributions to philosophy.

• Words: 1439

“The American Scholar” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ideal society by plato.

• Words: 1650

Heraclitus: Fire Is the Principle of Everything

• Words: 1003

Value of Philosophy to the Society

Hegelian dialectics.

• Words: 1091

Niccolo Machiavelli’s Virtue and Fortuna

• Words: 2019

The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God

• Words: 2858

Utilitarianism vs. Moral Relativism

• Words: 1213

What Is the Relationship Between Mind and Body?

• Words: 1763

Plato’s Theory of Forms: Summary Essay

Immanuel kant’s – duty theory of ethics, “love” by clarice lispector, “man is a political animal” by aristotle.

• Words: 1131

Philosophical Worldview From Christian Perspective

The theory of utilitarianism by jeremy bentham, prominent post-structuralist philosophers.

• Words: 4212

Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

Aristotle, his life and philosophical ideas.

• Words: 1361

Ship of Theseus Paradox

• Words: 1717

The Difference Between Common Sense and Knowledge

Why did plato hate the sophists – philosophy, courage as an important virtue in life.

• Words: 1168

Machiavelli’s Perspective on a Good Ruler

Utilitarianism critique from kantian perspective.

• Words: 1347

Yoga Philosophy in Bhagavad Gītā Epic

Thales vs anaximander philosophy.

• Words: 1154

Application of Aristotle’s Golden Mean

The history of western philosophy: three major periods, ethical theories and nepotism relationships.

• Words: 1925

The Certainty and Doubt Relationship

Mahatma gandhi’s satyagraha and swaraj concepts, philosophy’s main branches, herbert spencer and emile durkheim: comparison.

• Words: 2580

Main Branches of Philosophy: Definition and Explanation

Is it better to be feared than loved, philosophy of religion.

• Subjects: Philosophy of Religion
• Words: 1208

Grounded Theory

Guardians and justice in plato’s “the republic”.

• Words: 1210

“The Subject and Power” by Michel Foucault

• Words: 1657

Jeremy Bentham’s Impact on Legal Positivism

• Words: 1510

Philosophy: Aristotle on Moral Virtue

Immanuel kant ethics, the concept of interconnectedness in science.

• Words: 1108

Thomas Hobbes’ Views on Human Nature

Thinkers and theories

Paper trails

Husserl’s well-tended archive has given him a rich afterlife, while Nietzsche’s was distorted by his axe-grinding sister

Peter Salmon

Philosophy of mind

Do plants have minds?

In the 1840s, the iconoclastic scientist Gustav Fechner made an inspired case for taking seriously the interior lives of plants

Rachael Petersen

Political philosophy

Beyond the veil – what rules would govern John Rawls’s ‘realistic Utopia’?

A rare female scholar of the Roman Empire, Hypatia lived and died as a secular voice

Metaphysics

The enchanted vision

Love is much more than a mere emotion or moral ideal. It imbues the world itself and we should learn to move with its power

Mark Vernon

Philosophy is an art

For Margaret Macdonald, philosophical theories are akin to stories, meant to enlarge certain aspects of human life

Simple entities in universal harmony – Leibniz’s evocative perspective on reality

Our tools shape our selves

For Bernard Stiegler, a visionary philosopher of our digital age, technics is the defining feature of human experience

Bryan Norton

Stories and literature

Terrifying vistas of reality

H P Lovecraft, the master of cosmic horror stories, was a philosopher who believed in the total insignificance of humanity

Sam Woodward

A man beyond categories

Paul Tillich was a religious socialist and a profoundly subtle theologian who placed doubt at the centre of his thought

Social psychology

The magic of the mundane

Pioneering sociologist Erving Goffman realised that every action is deeply revealing of the social norms by which we live

Lucy McDonald

For Iris Murdoch, selfishness is a fault that can be solved by reframing the world

Against power

As a republican, Sophie de Grouchy argued that sympathy, not domination, must be the glue that holds society together

Sandrine Bergès & Eric Schliesser

‘My art is oratory, Socrates.’ An ancient warning on the power and peril of rhetoric

What awaits us?

Humanity’s future remains as unthinkable as the still-uncolonised galaxy or the enduring mystery of our own births and deaths

Jennifer Banks

On knowing who he was

Alan Watts, for all his faults, was a wildly imaginative and provocative thinker who reimagined religion in a secular age

Christopher Harding

We’ll meet again

The intrepid logician Kurt Gödel believed in the afterlife. In four heartfelt letters to his mother he explained why

Alexander T Englert

Dancing and time

For Rachel Bespaloff, philosophy was a sensual activity shaped by the rhythm of history, embodied in an instant of freedom

Isabel Jacobs

War and peace

The two Chomskys

The US military’s greatest enemy worked in an institution saturated with military funding. How did it shape his thought?

Chris Knight

Comparative philosophy

Forging philosophy

A 17th-century classic of Ethiopian philosophy might be a fake. Does it matter, or is that just how philosophy works?

Jonathan Egid

Henri Bergson on why the existence of things precedes their possibility

Logic and probability

The patterns of reality

Some have thought that logic will one day be completed and all its problems solved. Now we know it is an endless task

Timothy Williamson

History of ideas

Whither philosophy?

The discipline today finds itself precariously balanced between incomprehensible specialisation and cheap self-help

Siobhan Lyons

Wrestling with relativism

Bernard Williams argued that one’s ethics is shaped by culture and history. But that doesn’t mean that everyone is right

Daniel Callcut

5 Unsettling Philosophical Ideas To Keep You Up At Night

Philosophers look to better understand the world around them and answer some of life's most fundamental questions. What is the meaning of life? Who are we? What is the nature of reality? These are some of philosophy's oldest questions, and many philosophers have answered them using different theories. Not all of these theories have been pleasant; some have been quite unsettling.

Imagine you had to relive your life on repeat for an infinite loop in time. Or contemplate what your life would mean if you discovered you had no ability to decide anything for yourself. Explore five of the most unsettling philosophical theories. Beware reading on; some of these theories might keep you up at night.

Everything is Meaningless

The meaning of life is one of the biggest questions in philosophy. There are many answers to this question. Philosophers such as Aristotle believed the meaning of life was to achieve happiness, and Epicurus believed life was about seeking higher pleasures. A more unsettling response to this question is that life has no meaning. Albert Camus explored this idea in his book The Myth of Sisyphus.

One of the biggest contributors to the absurdist philosophy, Camus argued that people create their own meaning. He claimed any attempt to search for meaning is doomed to fail because there are too many unknowns. The positive side to this philosophy is that everyone creates their own meaning. However, creating meaning in your own life can feel like a daunting task to carry out.

Eternal Recurrence

Imagine living your life, in the same way, over and over for infinity. This idea might not sound so bad at first, but imagine reliving the parts of your life you want to forget. Every choice you regret, every nightmare you experience, and every bad situation, you would have to relive, forever. This is the idea behind eternal recurrence. This theory says the universe is repeating itself on an infinite loop, meaning you live your life on repeat. The same events occur in exactly the same order.

This scary idea was first introduced by the Stoics and later revived by Friedrich Nietzsche, in his book, The Gay Science . He reported the thought first came to him when he was hiking in the Swiss Alps. Nietzsche 's theory questions how we would act if we knew every moment of our lives would be relived. This idea was unsettling enough to even keep Nietzsche up at night. Later, in his book, Nietzche writes, "Thus did I speak, and always more softly; for I was afraid of mine own thoughts."

The World is Just in Your Head

While Nietzsche's theory is certainly unsettling, it doesn't call into question the reality of the world around us. This, at least, is a comforting idea to hang onto. However, the nature of reality was something that Arthur Schopenhauer called into question. Imagine the world around us doesn't exist, and it is all literally in our head. Everything you see around you, from trees, and birds to other people, would be a construct of your mind.

According to Schopenhauer, this is how the world is, and it only exists thanks to our perception of it. In his philosophy, Schopenhauer argues that the world around us doesn't exist objectively. Instead, it exists through people's subjective perception of it. Schopenhauer then goes on to question whether the world would even exist if there were no subjects to perceive it. This unsettling philosophy may leave you wondering if everything really is all in your head.

Eliminative Materialism

While Schopenhauer claims the world is in our heads, there is a philosophy that questions what is in our heads, such as mental states. Eliminative materialism makes a bold claim that certain mental states do not exist when they aren't based on biology. For example, belief and desire have no real biological basis that humans can identify.

Therefore, eliminative materialism says these mental states do not exist. In eliminative materialism, there is no mind; people just have a brain. Humans are reduced to beings of biology. This is a relatively new theory compared to other philosophical theories. The term eliminative materialism was first introduced by James Cornman in 1968.

While many philosophers, such as Descartes , have historically questioned the world around us, few have questioned the reliability of the mind's mental states. If we cannot trust our mental state, what can we trust?

No Free Will

If you cannot trust your mental state, at least you can trust yourself to make a decision. Or so most people like to think. However, philosophers have even questioned our ability to decide for ourselves. This is known as the question of free will . Some philosophers believe people don't have free will, one of them being Carl Jung. He questioned the existence of free will in his book Aion . According to Jung, people's selves are made up of two parts, the conscious and unconscious.

Jung called our conscious mind the ego and argued the ego was not the most powerful part of the self. Instead, the ego is under the control of unconscious forces, such as the shadow. These hidden inner authorities have more influence over our decision-making than our ego according to Jung. This means our ego or conscious mind is merely a spectator in the process.

By definition, free will is the ability to decide for ourselves independently from outside influence. If Jung is right, this means that we don't decide anything for ourselves. That latte you bought, your Saturday night plans, your career path, these aren't choices you made or can make.

The Really Unsettling Question

These are some of the most unsettling theories in philosophy. They make you question everything about the world around you and doubt your existence. If you can't trust your mental state and have no ability to decide, who are you? If there is no inherent meaning to life, how will you spend yours? If your life was repeated endlessly, how would you live yours differently? If you contemplate these questions too long, they may indeed keep you up at night.

Philosophy itself is an unsettling discipline. Philosophy deals with big questions we don't typically talk about on a day-to-day basis. Imagine going up to the cash register at the supermarket and starting a conversation about whether you have free will to buy the lettuce in your hand. Or ask the person beside you on the bus what they think the meaning of life is. Conversations about philosophical questions are rare amongst friends, let alone strangers.

However, if people talked about these questions more, the answers might not seem so unsettling. One of the most unsettling things to think about is the rarity of talking to each other about such important questions. Life is already so short; why shouldn't you spend it talking about these unsettling questions and theories?

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Francis Bacon’s Contributions to Science and Philosophy

This essay about Francis Bacon’s contributions to science and philosophy highlights his development of the empirical method, which emphasized observation, experimentation, and inductive reasoning. Bacon’s critiques of traditional Aristotelian approaches and his identification of biases that impede human understanding were revolutionary. He also envisioned a utopian society driven by scientific progress and collaboration, as described in his unfinished work, “New Atlantis.” Bacon’s ideas laid the foundation for modern scientific inquiry and philosophical empiricism, influencing future generations of scientists and thinkers.

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As it, he contested, because new methodology grounded in a certificate and thrift empiric gradual knowledge.

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How Ivy League Hopefuls Can Build Their Network This Summer

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Brown University

For high school students dreaming of attending Ivy League institutions, summer is not just a break from academics—it is an invaluable opportunity to build a network that can help them on the path toward their collegiate goals. Networking can open doors to mentorship, internships, and firsthand advice from those who have successfully navigated the Ivy League admissions process. While the age of the internet has opened new avenues for connection by allowing students to meet peers, professionals, and subject matter experts that they would not otherwise encounter, making the most of such networking opportunities—whether online or in person—requires strategy and skill.

For high school students seeking to level up their networking skills this summer, here are some key tips to keep in mind:

1. Start Locally

While the internet offers innumerable outlets for students to meet others in their field of interest and enrich their skillset, networking should always start in one’s own community. Before setting their sights on exchanging emails with Elon Musk, students should identify respected professionals, academics, or community leaders in their own community who may provide valuable insights or connections. Students can start by reaching out to friends and family members who know others working in their field of interest, attend the colleges they are applying to, or offer internships or volunteer opportunities for high school students in their area.

2. Master Email Etiquette

When reaching out to community members they do not know, students should send a brief and professional email explaining their goals and specifically stating how the recipient’s expertise might benefit their goals. They should begin with a professional greeting, using the person’s official title before introducing themself (this should include their school, grade and relevant accomplishments or interests). Students can then ask specific questions, set up a time to get coffee, or request to chat via Zoom or over the phone.

3. Maintain a Professional Online Presence

Alternatively, students can reach out to community leaders via networking sites such as LinkedIn ; social media platforms like Twitter can also be powerful tools for networking if used wisely. Creating a professional online presence can help students connect with key individuals and stay informed about new opportunities. While students may have personal Instagram or Twitter accounts on which they share photos or personal thoughts, they should be sure to engage with professionals and academics in their field from an account used solely for professional purposes. Students can follow Ivy League admissions officers and faculty members, and engage with their posts by commenting thoughtfully and sharing content that resonates with them.

Netflix’s Best New Show Has A Perfect 100% Critic Score

Samsung issues update warning for galaxy smartphones as google confirms new threat, hurricane beryl strengthens to category 5 and moves towards jamaica after pummeling other caribbean islands—photos, 4. make long-term impact.

When building a network, students should keep in mind that quality is often more important than quantity. Making connections with a breadth of peers and professionals in your field of interest can be helpful, but you will likely find that the most meaningful and beneficial relationships are those cultivated over time. For instance, if you are involved in a volunteer organization or internship program, committing to the activity over a couple of years during your high school career will allow you to grow in your role, demonstrate your commitment to the cause, and develop new skills over time. Likewise, your peers, supervisors, and mentors will be able to craft meaningful letters of recommendation, offer advice as you engage in the college search, or connect you with others who can help you along the way.

5. Make a Strategic Plan for Requesting Letters of Recommendations

Finally, students should note that a strong network is made up of people with diverse expertise—not every person in their network will be able to offer insightful college advice or write a strong letter of recommendation. Because of this, students should be intentional and strategic about how they leverage their network, using some connections to secure internships or jobs, others to make connections in their field of interest, and others to craft compelling letters of recommendation. The best recommenders will be those who have interacted with the student in a meaningful way (whether as a supervisor, professional or academic mentor) and who can attest to their unique strengths in the admissions process.

Building a network is a proactive and ongoing process. By taking advantage of summer opportunities, you can create a support system that provides guidance, inspiration, and practical assistance on your path to the Ivy League. The relationships you build now can significantly impact your future academic and professional success.

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Last year the department saw four graduate students complete their PhDs and move on to prestigious postdoctoral positions!

Cody Dout “Understanding White Superagency” (chair: Michael Blake); now postdoc at Rutgers University

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Arthur Obst “Wilderness for Wildness: Saving the Wild in a Post-Natural World” (chair: Stephen Gardiner); now postdoc at Princeton University

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Why some campaigners urge people to spoil their ballots - instead of not voting

If someone does not want to back any candidate, then why do they go to the effort of visiting a polling station or filling out a postal vote? Sky News looks at why and how voters spoil their ballots - and what happens next.

News reporter @jos_franks

Tuesday 2 July 2024 21:46, UK

Politicians have been courting voters for weeks - but some of those casting a ballot on Thursday won't be backing any candidate.

At the last general election , more than 100,000 people spoilt their ballot papers - in a wide variety of ways.

But why do people go to the effort of visiting a polling station or filling out a postal vote if they don't want to back a politician?

Sky News looks at why and how people spoil their votes - and what happens next.

Why do some voters spoil their ballot papers?

It is thought many people who cast invalid votes do so deliberately because they simply do not like any of the candidates or parties on offer.

Some voters might support a party that is not standing in their area, or they may be undecided over who to back.

Over 18s in the UK can only cast one vote for one candidate - but more than 20,000 people backed at least two in the last general election.

Read more: Manifesto Checker - what are the parties' key pledges? Does voting actually change anything?

Why are dissatisfied voters encouraged to spoil their ballot?

People who are fed up with politicians generally - or the particular ones standing in an election - have the easy option of simply not turning up on voting day or shunning the option of a postal vote.

At the last general election , in 2019, the turnout across the UK was 67.3% - meaning millions of adults did not vote.

However, campaigners argue it is better to show up and spoil your ballot paper than stay away, even if you don't like any of the candidates.

Voting Counts, an organisation that aims to improve political engagement among young adults, says it is a good way for someone to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with politicians.

By spoiling your vote "you become a voice for the disengaged", it argues.

The group notes that, because all spoilt votes are counted and recorded, "your apathy towards the political parties will be heard not just forgotten".

The hope is if there are lots of blank or spoilt votes, it puts pressure on politicians to think about how to reconnect with disengaged voters.

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How do people spoil their votes?

When it comes to casting an invalid vote, the ballot paper is your canvas - campaigners argue.

One common technique, as mentioned above, is to back more than one candidate, while others leave their voting paper blank before popping it in the ballot box.

Some might write an X in every box - or daub a giant one across the whole ballot paper.

But some get more creative with expletives, rants about politicians or drawings - of all kinds of things...

A penis can still count - if it's drawn carefully

In the 2015 general election, Conservative MP Glyn Davies was awarded a vote he wasn't necessarily counting on when a rude image drawn next to his name was determined to be a valid vote.

Mr Davies wrote on his Facebook page at the time: "One voter decided to draw a detailed representation of a penis instead of a cross in my box on one ballot paper.

"Amazingly, because it was neatly drawn within the confines of the box the returning officer deemed it a valid vote.

"I'm not sure the artist meant it to count, but I am grateful. If I knew who it was, I would like to thank him (or her) personally."

What happens to spoilt votes?

When a vote counter comes across a ballot paper that has been scrawled on or otherwise defaced, it isn't immediately declared spoilt.

First, it is put in a pile of "doubtful" ballot papers.

Blank votes, clearly spoilt ones, and ones where the counter is not sure of the voter's intention, all go in this pile.

The returning officer - the person in charge of the count - will then go through them to determine which ballots are invalid.

The Electoral Commission says they do not need to wait until the end of the count to do this, and advise that the process "should be carried out regularly throughout the count in clear view of those entitled to be present".

If a voter's intention is unclear, if they have left their ballot blank, if they have broken the rules (such as voting for more than one candidate) or if they have clearly spoilt the paper, then a ballot will usually be declared invalid.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

However, counting agents, who are at the counting venue on behalf of candidates, can object if they think the vote should be counted.

At the end of the count, the number of spoilt votes is tallied and announced along with the number of votes each candidate has won.

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How many people spoil their ballots?

In the last UK general election in 2019, 0.36% of votes were rejected - a total of 117,101 ballot papers.

These included 20,983 ballot papers where the voter marked more than one candidate, 1,585 which included an "identifying mark" and 93,959 that were "unmarked".

Chorley in Lancashire had 1,303 invalid votes - the largest number out of any constituency in the UK and the equivalent of one in every 31 valid votes cast in the region.

However, the seat was home to Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle - and so by tradition the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats did not field a candidate there.

The total number of spoilt ballots in 2019 represented a 58% increase on the 74,189 votes that were rejected at the 2017 general election .

Related Topics

• Electoral Commission
• General Election 2024

What the Supreme Court Doesn’t Get About Homelessness

Communities turn to police instead of fixing their housing shortage.

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Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration.

The Supreme Court has just ripped away one of the rare shreds of legal protections available to homeless people. In a 6–3 ruling, the Court has decided that the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, did not violate the Eighth Amendment by enforcing camping bans against its involuntarily unsheltered residents. The ruling epitomizes why housing has become a crisis in so much of the country: It does nothing to make communities confront their role in causing a housing shortage, and it upholds their ability to inflict pain upon that shortage’s victims.

This ruling overturned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedents Grants Pass v. Johnson and Martin v. Boise , which had restrained jurisdictions in much of the western United States, including the high-homelessness states of California, Oregon, and Washington, from enforcing anti-camping laws if they lacked shelter beds. Writing for the majority in the Grants Pass case, Justice Neil Gorsuch struck a Tocquevillian note, asserting that the American people, “through their voluntary associations and charities, their elected representatives and appointed officials, their police officers and mental health professionals,” know better than some judges the best way to address homelessness in their cities and towns. And if part of their answer is to jail homeless people, so be it.

Listen: A Supreme Court ruling on homelessness that’s both crucial and useless

Modern tent encampments were not a significant part of the urban landscape before the 1980s. In fact, not since the Great Depression, when unemployment hit nearly 25 percent , have so many people sought makeshift shelter in outdoor camps. Today, unemployment is at 4 percent . And yet, in prosperous American cities, homelessness abounds. It’s not because drugs were invented in the past several decades, nor is it because mental illness was invented by Millennials.

Rather, it’s because local governments have sought to rid their housing markets of low-income people by getting rid of low-income-housing options, while ensuring that the rest of the market would become prohibitively expensive. Localities simply displaced the most vulnerable residents to the outdoors, hoping that life would be so uncomfortable that these people would migrate to some other community. And now, after policy choices have created a nationwide housing crisis, cities have successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to allow them to ignore a problem of their own making. If they’re not willing to allow more housing, they certainly are willing to house the indigent in jail.

Grants Pass has about 40,000 people and a median family income of $54,000, which is 30 percent below the state average. The one homeless shelter there, run by a Christian nonprofit, can house 138 people . It requires that its residents abstain from alcohol and drugs (including nicotine), attend twice-daily chapel services, and “abstain from intimate relationships.” It also requires residents to separate from their partner or spouse to maintain gender segregation. For many people, this is a difficult way to live. Everybody agrees that there aren’t enough shelter beds for the number of homeless people. Where they disagree is what should be done about it.

Tent encampments are a symptom of a dysfunctional housing market for low-income renters. Yet over the decades, cities have not only barred housing of last resort from being built; they’ve also squeezed development of housing targeted at even middle- and high-income renters. People’s options have thus been whittled down to nothing when a medical emergency hits, or a divorce happens, or a family dispute leads to someone being kicked out—resulting in large numbers of people living outside.

As tent encampments have proliferated around the country, communities have routinely treated the problem of homelessness as a matter of maintaining order rather than of reducing the number of people without shelter. This isn’t irrational; many local residents experience these encampments as hotbeds of disorder. Not only do many encampments take up public parks and settings that are available for general use, but they also accumulate trash and other signs of chaos.

Still, fining and jailing people for being poor is fundamentally unjust; if you’re homeless, that on its own should not be treated as a criminal offense. And as a practical matter, people cannot be fined or jailed out of homelessness. When cities turn to punitive measures without offering options more suitable than camping outside, they’re at best simply moving homeless people around in an endless dystopian game. At worst, they’re imposing fines and other legal costs on people already defined by their lack of resources, and increasing the likelihood that they remain transient and unhoused.

Writing for the three dissenting liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor zeroed in on a core problem: Does criminalization even work? “For people with nowhere else to go, fines and jail time do not deter behavior, reduce homelessness, or increase public safety … Police officers in these cities recognize as much: ‘Look we’re not really solving anybody’s problem. This is a big game of whack-a-mole.’” The ruling will empower cities and states to pursue criminalization without addressing the root causes of homelessness. But to what end?

From the January/February 2023 issue: The obvious answer to homelessness

In 2023, the National Park Service cleared about 74 people out of D.C.’s McPherson Square. City officials admitted later that, as The Washington Post put it , “roughly two-thirds of those who had been displaced from the park were believed still to be sleeping on the street.” The newspaper reported that, soon after the sweep, just two people had been placed in permanent housing.

Elected officials want an easy way out of this catastrophe, and when your only tool is a police officer, everyone looks like a prisoner. Mayors and governors are searching desperately for a quick fix to this problem and are frustrated that even valiant efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing is unlikely to earn them many points from the electorate. Such attempts to address homelessness are unlikely to be politically persuasive if they don’t result in the removal of tent encampments. This frustration was perhaps best put by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass : Angelenos “want the tents to go.” She continued, “I could build half a million units of housing, and if there are still tents, people will not believe that you did anything except to steal their money.” But there is no quick fix, and mayors such as Bass have done little to seriously push back against the entrenched political interests that oppose new housing.

Yes, clearing encampments has to happen sometime. But only when cities have invested in the shelter capacity and housing space needed to serve these populations will enforcement have any meaningful effect on addressing homelessness—and the disorder it brings.